4 Things Queen Camilla Put Her Foot Down On Before Marrying King Charles

Queen Camilla’s marriage to King Charles in 2005 came after years of public scrutiny, and she was not going to step into royal life without a few boundaries to safeguard herself. Let's take a look at four such things Camilla reportedly drew the line on before becoming the King’s wife.

Camilla could legally have used the title Princess of Wales after marrying Charles, but she chose not to. In the weeks before their 2005 wedding, a Clarence House spokesman confirmed that while Camilla would technically be Princess of Wales, she would not use the title. As per The Independent, he said, “Mrs Parker Bowles will use the title HRH the Duchess of Cornwall after marriage.” It was a choice Camilla wouldn't budge on, given that the title was previously held by Princess Diana.

Camilla was also determined to keep one part of her old life after marrying Charles, and that was Ray Mill House, her private home in Wiltshire. Before the 2005 wedding, she reportedly made it clear that she wanted to hold on to the countryside retreat. Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun, “Before she married Charles, she made a pact with him that she would keep Ray Mill House as her bolthole.” She explained that Camilla wanted to “get away from the restrictions of the security and being surrounded by staff.”

Camilla also wanted her wedding to Charles to be a much quieter affair than the grand royal ceremonies people were used to. The couple chose to marry in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in April 2005, followed by a religious service at St George’s Chapel. Buckingham Palace said at the time that Charles and Camilla wanted to keep the occasion “low-key,” with the late Queen also choosing not to attend the civil ceremony. It was a far more understated way to begin their married life than the spectacle many might have expected from a future king.

Another thing Camilla had seemingly decided for herself was the title she would take once Charles became King. When they married in 2005, Clarence House said she intended to be known as Princess Consort rather than Queen Consort. This was understood to be an attempt to avoid any backlash, given Diana's infamous admission that she didn't see herself as ever becoming Queen. However, that plan changed years later when Queen Elizabeth made her own wishes clear in 2022. As per The Guardian, she wrote in a letter, “It is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.” And as per the late Queen's wishes, Camilla eventually took the title when Charles became king later that year.