King Charles and Queen Camilla first went public with their relationship 25 years ago but it's no secret that they were forced to endure painful public hostility and emotional angst during the early days of their romance.
In the wake of leaked audio tapes, TV confessions of infidelity and a bombshell tell-all book by Diana, Camilla admitted there were times when she found it all to be too much to bear.
Reflecting on the past, she said back in 2017: "It was horrid. It was a deeply unpleasant time and I wouldn’t want to put my worst enemy through it. I couldn’t have survived it without my family."
However, the now Queen, refused to back down and two years after Princess Diana's tragic death in 1997, she and Charles made their first public appearance together at the 50th birthday party of Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot at The Ritz in London.
The pair were seen leaving the hotel together which sparked a media frenzy, OK! reports.
Royal author Angela Levin says, “Photographs of them were in demand from around the world and their appearance, although brief, was the start of a new beginning for them both.”
Charles and Camilla went on to officially tie the knot on April 9 2005, with their wedding being very different to Charles' and Diana's, which cost nearly £60m.
When the King and Queen were finally able to exchange vows, they reportedly only paid £285 to hire the Ascot Room at Windsor Guildhall, a high street register office.
Despite the casualness of the event, there was still a public excitement with about 20,000 well-wishers gathering outside the venue.
Robert Hardman, author of Charles III said: “Their wedding was a huge turning point in many ways. These are the moments that punctuate our royal history. There was a great buzz about it.”
After the formalities, a simple two-hour reception was held in the State Apartments, where guests were treated to an afternoon tea of smoked salmon, venison sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and strawberry tartlets.
Their lavish wedding cake was a large square design that weighed a whopping 7st.
On the big day, Charles' wedding speech was packed with emotion as he said: “My darling Camilla, I can’t believe that you married me. She has stood with me through thick and thin and her optimism and humour have seen me through.”
The couple enjoyed their honeymoon at Balmoral, journeying to RAF Northolt in a Bentley that the King's sons William and Harry had decorated with balloons and the words “Prince” and “Duchess” sprayed on the windscreen, with “Just Married” on the rear.
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Since then, Camilla appears to have won the public over while quietly getting on with her royal duties and providing endless affection and companionship for Charles.
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