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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Forsey

Camilla's heartbreaking fear in lead up to wedding to Prince Charles

Prince Charles and Camilla's love story was far from simple, and it took decades of heartbreak, betrayal and upset before they finally made it down the aisle.

In February 2005, the couple announced they were to marry and Camilla showed off a stunning diamond engagement ring that had belonged to the Queen Mother.

As they were both divorcees they couldn't have a large traditional royal wedding, Charles and Camilla opted for a civil service at the Windsor Guildhall.

Princes William and Harry stood alongside Camilla's children Laura and Tom as the couple said their vows.

But in the lead up to the big day, Camilla had a terrifying fear.

Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary Charles and Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting, royal expert Jenny Bond said: "I think Charles has always wanted to make Camilla his bride, his wife.

The couple were married on April 9th 2005 (PA)

"I think he felt that she had endured a lot of really negative criticism over the years and she had taken it with a lot of dignity and all he wanted was to make her his wife."

However there were big concerns about how the public would react to Camilla as a royal bride, particularly from the woman herself.

Current affairs commentator Carole Malone said: "She was terrified no one would come, she was terrified she'd be booed.

Prince Charles, and Camilla with their children, from left to right, Prince Harry, Prince William, Tom and Laura (Corbis via Getty Images)

"I remember seeing this film footage at the time at about 6am and there was no one on the streets of Windsor. It was freezing as well I remember, it was a really cold day.

"She must have been terrified that no one would be there.

"As a journalist I was looking at it and thinking, the only reaction to this is going to be national apathy, which is almost as bad as protest.

"However, by 10.30am the streets were thronging with people."

Camilla flashes her diamond engagement ring in 2005 (Reuters)

The Queen didn't attend the first ceremony due to her role as Head of the Church of England, but was at the blessing at St George's Chapel shortly afterwards.

After the service she posed with the newlyweds on the steps outside St George's Chapel.

After the wedding Camilla technically became the Princess of Wales, however she decided not to use the title out of respect for Diana.

Instead, she used the secondary title the Queen handed her on her wedding day - the Duchess of Cornwall.

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