Editing Queen Camilla (section)

===Second marriage===
{{further|Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles|Wedding dress of Camilla Parker Bowles}}
On 10 February 2005, Clarence House publicised the engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles and the Prince of Wales. As an engagement ring, Charles gave Parker Bowles a diamond ring believed to have been given to his grandmother when she gave birth to Charles's mother.{{Sfn|Graham|2005|p=7}} The ring comprised a square-cut diamond with three diamond [[Baguette cut|baguettes]] on each side.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Crown jewels: The fabulous rings which sealed the love of Europe's royal couples |url=http://ca.hellomagazine.com/brides/gallery/200908211884/royal-brides/engagement-ring/princess-wed/8 |url-status=live |magazine=Hello! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127090148/http://ca.hellomagazine.com/brides/gallery/200908211884/royal-brides/engagement-ring/princess-wed/8 |archive-date=27 November 2015 |access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref> As the future [[supreme governor of the Church of England]], the prospect of Charles marrying a divorcée was seen as controversial, but with the consent of the Queen,<ref name="House of Commons statement">{{Cite news |date=17 March 2005 |title=Royal Marriage |work=Parliament of the United Kingdom |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050317/text/50317w32.htm#50317w32.html_sbhd1 |url-status=live |access-date=19 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402173142/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050317/text/50317w32.htm#50317w32.html_sbhd1 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> the government,<ref name="House of Lords statement">{{Cite news |date=24 February 2005 |title=Royal Marriage |work=Parliament of the United Kingdom |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldhansrd/vo050224/text/50224-51.htm#50224-51_head0 |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152718/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldhansrd/vo050224/text/50224-51.htm#50224-51_head0 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> and the Church of England, the couple were able to wed. The Queen and [[Tony Blair]], along with Archbishop of Canterbury [[Rowan Williams]], offered their best wishes in statements to the media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2005 |title=Prince Charles to marry longtime lover Camilla |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6945019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225102912/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6945019 |archive-date=25 December 2013 |access-date=6 March 2012 |work=NBC News}}</ref> In the two months following the announcement of their engagement, Clarence House received 25,000 letters with "95 or 99 per cent being supportive"; 908 [[hate mail]] letters were also received, with the more threatening and personal ones sent to the police for investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 April 2005 |title=Camilla hate mail is passed on to police |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7249816.camilla-hate-mail-is-passed-on-to-police |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216214228/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7249816.camilla-hate-mail-is-passed-on-to-police |archive-date=16 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |work=Gazette and Herald}}</ref>

The marriage was to have been on 8 April 2005, in a [[civil ceremony]] at [[Windsor Castle]], with a subsequent religious service of blessing<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/pastoral/marriage/civilmarriage.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423155547/https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/pastoral/marriage/civilmarriage.aspx |archive-date=23 April 2011 |access-date=6 October 2017 |work=The Church of England}}</ref> at [[St George's Chapel]]. However, to conduct a civil marriage at Windsor Castle would oblige the venue to obtain a licence for civil marriages, which it did not have. A condition of such a licence is that the licensed venue must be available for a period of one year to anyone wishing to be married there, and as the royal family did not wish to make Windsor Castle available to the public for civil marriages, the venue was changed to the town hall at [[Windsor Guildhall]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 February 2005 |title=Prince Charles, Camilla change wedding plans |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/02/18/prince-charles-camilla-change-wedding-plans/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624211134/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-02-18/news/0502190039_1_charles-and-camilla-windsor-castle-charles-clarence-house |archive-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> On 4 April, the marriage was delayed by one day to allow the Prince of Wales and some of the invited dignitaries to attend the [[funeral of Pope John Paul II]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dear |first=Paula |date=5 April 2005 |title=Fans 'panic buy' 8 April mementos |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4412347.stm |url-status=live |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825090817/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4412347.stm |archive-date=25 August 2007}}; {{Cite news |date=4 April 2005 |title=Prince Charles Postpones Wedding to Attend Funeral |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/international/europe/04cnd-wedding.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206223712/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/international/europe/prince-charles-postpones-wedding-to-attend-funeral.html |archive-date=6 February 2022}}</ref>

On 9 April 2005, the marriage ceremony was held. The parents of Charles and Camilla did not attend;<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 February 2005 |title=Q&A: Queen's wedding decision |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4289417.stm |url-status=live |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223817/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4289417.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009}}</ref> instead, Camilla's son Tom and Charles's son [[Prince William]] acted as witnesses to the union.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2005 |title=Wedding role for William and Tom |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4375143.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614044443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4375143.stm |archive-date=14 June 2012}}</ref> The Queen and the [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Duke of Edinburgh]] did attend the service of blessing. Afterwards, the Queen held a reception for the newlyweds at Windsor Castle.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crean |first=Ellen |date=9 April 2005 |title=CBS News "Charles and Camilla Finally Wed" |work=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/09/world/main686994.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112201734/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/09/world/main686994.shtml |archive-date=12 November 2010}}</ref> Performers included the [[Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel Choir]], the [[Philharmonia Orchestra]], and Welsh composer [[Alun Hoddinott]].{{Sfn|Brandreth|2007|p=334}} As a wedding gift, The Marinsky Theatre Trust in [[St. Petersburg]] brought a Belarusian [[mezzo-soprano]] singer, [[Ekaterina Semenchuk]], to the United Kingdom to perform a special song for the couple.{{Sfn|Brandreth|2007|p=333}} Following the wedding, the couple travelled to Charles's country home in Scotland, [[Birkhall]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 April 2005 |title=Royal newlyweds begin honeymoon |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4428737.stm |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116093147/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4428737.stm |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref> and carried out their first public duties together during their honeymoon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2005 |title=Royal newlyweds break off honeymoon to meet pupils |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Royal+newlyweds+break+off+honeymoon+to+meet+pupils.-a0131487956 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811182116/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Royal+newlyweds+break+off+honeymoon+to+meet+pupils.-a0131487956 |archive-date=11 August 2016 |access-date=3 May 2012 |work=The Birmingham Post |via=The Free Library}}</ref>