King Charles and Camilla Mark 20th Wedding Anniversary

King Charles III and Queen Camilla marked the 20th anniversary of their wedding this week, reflecting on a union that began with intimate vows at Windsor Guildhall on April 9, 2005, amid a backdrop of royal tradition and personal challenges.

The couple, then Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, exchanged civil vows in a modest ceremony attended by just 28 guests, including Charles's sons, Princes William and Harry, and Camilla's children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes. William and Tom served as witnesses. The event, held just outside Windsor Castle, followed their engagement announcement in February 2005. Both divorcees, they opted for a civil rite rather than a church wedding, given Charles's future role as head of the Church of England.

After the Guildhall service, the pair proceeded to St. George's Chapel for a religious blessing led by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. There, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who had skipped the civil ceremony due to the church's stance on remarriage after divorce, joined the gathering. The Queen hosted a reception at Windsor Castle, where she delivered an unexpected speech, breaking protocol by speaking as the mother of...