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Charles and Camilla's biggest milestones together© Getty

6 of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's biggest milestones ahead of coronation

The King and Queen Consort will be crowned in a joint coronation ceremony on 6 May

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
April 24, 2023
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King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned in a joint coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

The historic occasion comes less than a month after the couple celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary.

Charles and Camilla have known one another since 1970, and regularly met at polo matches over the years. 

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Camilla subsequently married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973, and Charles married the former Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 – but at some point in the 1980s, their romance resumed.

In 1994, Charles confessed to adultery in a TV interview with broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, but only after his marriage had "irretrievably broken down".

Camilla accompanied Charles to many of his public engagements in the years leading up to their engagement in February 2005 and subsequent wedding in April that year.

With less than two weeks until the big day, HELLO! is taking a look back at Charles and Camilla's milestone moments together…

16

Public debut

Charles and Camilla leave The Ritz together in 1999© Getty
Charles and Camilla leave The Ritz together in 1999

Charles and Camilla were photographed together publicly for the very first time on 28 January 1999, as the couple attended a 50th birthday for Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot, at The Ritz in London.

In a media strategy known as Operation Ritz, the Prince's then deputy private secretary Mark Bolland helped to orchestrate the coverage of their first official outing.

According to The Independent at the time, Mr Bolland, former director of the Press Complaints commission, "had returned from Los Angeles to take personal control of Operation Ritz, and had privately assured his contacts at The Sun and Daily Mail by telephone that Thursday 28 January was T-Day, or Together Day.

26

Royal wedding – civil ceremony

Charles and Camilla at their civil marriage ceremony© Getty
Charles and Camilla at their civil marriage ceremony

Charles and Camilla tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on 9 April 2005.

The groom wore formal morning dress, while the royal bride donned a cream dress by Robinson Valentine and a feathered hat by Philip Treacy.

Camilla then became known as the Duchess of Cornwall.

36

Royal wedding - blessing

The Queen attended Charles and Camilla's marriage blessing© Getty
The Queen attended Charles and Camilla's marriage blessing

The couple's civil ceremony was followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication at Windsor Castle, which the late Queen, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and members of the royal family attended. 

Camilla changed into a floor-length embroidered pale blue and gold coat over a matching chiffon dress and accessorised with a spray of gold feathers in her hair.

46

First balcony moment

Charles and Camilla made their balcony debut at Trooping the Colour 2005© Getty
Charles and Camilla made their balcony debut at Trooping the Colour 2005

Just a couple of months after their wedding, Charles and Camilla made their debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony as they attended Trooping the Colour to mark the Queen's birthday.

The Duchess appeared to rewear her wedding outfit from the civil ceremony for the occasion and added a taupe feathered hat.

56

First royal tour

Charles and Camilla with President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush© Getty
Charles and Camilla with President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush

Charles and Camilla carried out their first official tour as husband and wife in November 2005, when they visited the US.

The couple's week-long visit included a White House dinner with then President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, as well as engagements in San Francisco and New Orleans.

66

First official portrait as King and Queen Consort

Charles and Camilla's first portrait as King and Queen Consort © Hugo Burnand
Charles and Camilla's first portrait as King and Queen Consort

Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace shared the first official portrait of the King and Queen Consort ahead of the coronation.

It shows Charles and Camilla, wearing a Fiona Clare dress, smiling in Buckingham Palace's blue drawing room in an image taken by Hugo Burnand, a favourite photographer of the royal family.

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