“The Crown” Fact-Checked: Was Charles and Camilla’s Marriage Approved by Queen Elizabeth?

Peter Morgan’s lavish drama “The Crown,” which followed Queen Elizabeth II for six seasons and three casts, has concluded. Though the author of the poignant series is said to have known from the start how it would finish, the Netflix adaptation changed somewhat after the Queen’s passing and ended with Prince Charles’s much-anticipated marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles.

Following a protracted romance that began when they first met in 1970, King, Charles, and Camilla were married in 2005. It is also said that the late Queen, who was first wary of their connection, approved of the wedding.

Despite not being present at the actual wedding, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, did show up for the post-wedding church ceremony.

In the last episode of “The Crown,” scenes from Charles’s proposal and his subsequent request for the Queen’s consent to marry Camilla were dramatized. The pair was under public scrutiny after Princess Diana passed away in 1997, and the Royal Family’s reaction to the request caused controversy.

It showed how the royal family was initially hesitant to approve the couple’s marriage, with Prince William and Prince Harry approving it before the Queen approved it.

WAS THE MARRIAGE APPROVED BY THE QUEEN?
Despite early mistrust, a number of accounts indicate that the Queen may have approved of her oldest son’s second marriage after all.

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, reportedly told The News that Queen Elizabeth had a major role in organizing Charles and Camilla’s wedding at Windsor Guildhall.

According to Harrold, who served in Charles’ household for seven years between 2004 and 2011, the Queen was very devoted to him and his new bride and went above and above in secret to win her favor.

Harold said in an interview with Guides For Brides that the late king was instrumental in planning many wedding-related aspects for the big day, including as the flowers and Charles and Camilla’s wedding rings.

The former royal assistant said that the Queen made a humorous statement during the newlyweds’ celebration.

“I recall making my way to St. George’s Hall for the cocktail event. Harrold shared his knowledge of the occasion and said, “The Queen gave a speech at the reception, which was seen as a big sign of her approval to the marriage. She had not attended the actual service.”

She was humorous, but I can’t recall what she said exactly. She likened their bond to a horse race at the Grand National. He said, “She had a way with words and was a fantastic comic.

Timeline of the relationship between Charles and Camilla
When Charles and Camilla first started dating in 1970, they had a protracted relationship that ended in divorce.

Charles was devastated when Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 while he was still serving in the Navy. Andrew and Camilla are parents to a girl and a boy.

Nevertheless, Camilla apparently resumed her affair with Charles in 1978 or 1979, even though her husband was already rumored to be unfaithful to her.

In 1980, against mounting pressure from the Royal family to be married, Charles began seeing a young Diana Spencer.

It is said that Charles and Camilla stayed close throughout this period. In 1981, Diana and the then-prince Charles were married.

The couple’s marriage to Princes William and Harry, Diana and Charles, was troubled from the start.

It is said that Charles and Camilla started dating around 1986.

While Camilla and Andrew divorced in 1995, Charles and Diana officially split in 1992.

Diana passed away in 1997. Charles and Camilla waited eight years to be married, nevertheless, since their courtship was still under pressure from the Royal family and society.