On the eve of their 18th wedding anniversary, Charles III and Queen Camilla are not in the mood to celebrate. This year, the royal couple will also mark the second anniversary of the death of Prince Philip, the father of the current monarch.
This weekend, champagne and cake will be bittersweet for Charles III and Queen Camilla. As the couple prepares to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, the sovereign can not help but have an emotional thought for his father, Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021. The husband of Elizabeth II took his last breath peacefully, next to the Queen, and died of the causes of his great age, at 99 years. Charles III, then Prince of Wales, was to celebrate his 16th wedding anniversary to Camilla…
16 years earlier, in 2005, the couple met at the Windsor Guildhall to finally unite, after long years punctuated by a passionate and tumultuous relationship. Elizabeth II, in her capacity as guardian of the Faith and supreme governor of the Church of England, could not join the ceremony because divorces are not recognized by the Anglican religion. Charles III’s parents did hold a reception at Windsor Castle later that day to show their approval.
“We miss him terribly”
In keeping with the Windsor mantra – never complain, never explain – Charles III rarely talks about his feelings. Yet the sovereign had confided in a tribute video, posted on the Clarence House Instagram account. “As you can imagine, I and my family miss my father terribly,” he explained, his tone serious. “My dear dad was a very special person who I think would have been amazed above all else by the reaction and touching things that have been said about him. From that standpoint, my family and I are deeply grateful for all of it. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time.” Still, let’s hope Charles III recovers from his emotions to enjoy this special weekend with Camilla, one of the last before their coronation scheduled for May 6.
Photo credits: Agency / Bestimage