The wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles

Last modified: 19 December 2013

Windsor, 9 April 2005

Programme

  • 12:25 – The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles depart Windsor Castle by car via King George IV and Cambridge Gates for the Guildhall
  • 12:30 – The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles arrive at the Guildhall for the Civil Ceremony
  • 12:55 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall depart the Guildhall and return to Windsor Castle
  • 14:30 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive for the Service of Prayer and Dedication at Galilee Porch, St George’s Chapel and are met by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury
  • 15:15 – The Service of Prayer and Dedication ends
  • 15:17 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall depart St George’s Chapel by the West Door and are joined by Her Majesty The Queen, other members of the Royal Family, the Shand family, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Dean of Windsor
  • 15:20 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall meet a number of well-wishers in the Horseshoe Cloister. This group includes representatives from a number of charities and organisations that are connected to Their Royal Highnesses
  • 15:45 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall drive from Henry VIII Gate to the State Apartments for the reception given by The Queen
  • Around 17:45 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall depart Windsor Castle for Scotland Around
  • 19:45 – The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive in Aberdeen where they are met by pipers and airport staff

Civil wedding

One day later as scheduled – due to the funeral of Pope John Paul II – the civil wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles took place in the Ascot Room within the Guildhall at Windsor. Bride and groom had spent the night apart from each other. The Prince of Wales had spent the night at Highgrove, Gloucestershire, with his sons William and Harry. Camilla Parker Bowles had spent the night at Clarence House. She left Clarence House at 10.08 in the morning in a black Audi, her motorcade heading past Buckingham Palace en route to Windsor Castle, 25 miles away. She wore a blue jacket, waved and smiled to reporters as the car swept past. A crowd of around 100 people, mostly foreign tourists, watched from behind barriers. In the meantime crowds were beginning to assemle in the centre of Windsor, some fanatics even camped in the streets overnight. Security was extra tight around Windsor with marksmen on rooftops, officers mingling in the crowd and police with sniffer dogs patrolling the route.

Shortly before 11.00 the band of the Coldstream Guards marched from the town’s barracks towards Windsor Castle, leading the changing of the guard, much to the pleasure of the waiting people in the streets. Registrar Clair Williams, who conducted the civil marriage, arrived at the Guildhall at noon. She was dressed in a pale pink skirt and jacket and a cream hat. She said she was ‘nervous but excited’. By her side was her deputy Claire Paterson, wearing a royal blue skirt and jacket, who recorded the wedding in the register. At 12.14 the 28 guests for the civil wedding left Windsor castle in a minibus to be driven down the High Street to the Guildhall. They arrived only shortly before the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles. Major Bruce Shand and Tom Parker Bowles led the party, which was greeted at the steps by Sir Malcolm Ross, of the Lord Chancellor’s Office, to the Ascot Room inside the hall.

At 12.25 the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles left Windsor Castle via the King George IV gate and were driven the short journey down the Long Walk through Windsor Great Park, through the Cambridge Gate, up Park Street, and on to the town’s High Street in a Rolls Royce. Camilla waved to the crowds outside. At the Guildhall a jazz band comprising pupils from the local boys’ school struck up a spirited rendition of Congratulations as the Prince and Camilla stepped from the car and walked side-by-side into the Guildhall.

After a preliminary meeting in the Mayor’s Parlour at which the Registrar confirmed details, the marriage ceremony itself followed at the Ascot Room of Windsor Guildhall. The flowers in the Ascot Room had been cut from the gardens at Highgrove and Raymill. Bunches of Lily of the Valley – a favourite of both Charles and Camilla – also decorated the room. Traditionally, Lily of the Valley symbolise the return of happiness. The 28 guests were seated in three rows of five chairs on either side of the aisle while Charles and Camilla took two dark brown padded chairs in front of a matching table. Prince William of Wales and Tom Parker Bowles were the witnesses to the marriage. There was no music and no additions, such as poetry or other readings, to the standard register-office order. No media were allowed inside and aides kept further details strictly private. A stern-looking Queen Victoria watched over the proceedings. Her portrait hangs in the room which is decorated with a central chandelier and a pair of stained-glass windows along one side.

At 12.51 the Prince of Wales and the new Duchess of Cornwall emerged arm-in-arm from the red doors of the Guildhall under loud applause. The Prince smiled broadly and waved to the crowd. He mouthed “Thank you very much” to the cheering crowds. Camilla, looking nervous, pressed closely to his side as they stepped back in to the Rolls-Royce to return to the Windsor Castle for the blessing ceremony in St George’s chapel. Their first public appearance as a married couple lasted perhaps less than 30 seconds. Crowds outside the Cambride Gate cheered as the royal couple travelled back to Windsor Castle. The new Duchess of Cornwall gave a broad smile and a royal wave. On the minibus behind them, Princes William and Harry both peered from of the window, waving and laughing.

More than 20,000 people cheered the couple in Windsor. There were two arrests, one for streaking and another for what police described as a minor offence.

Wedding outfit of the Duchess of Cornwall

The Duchess of Cornwall wore an oyster silk basket-weave coat with herringbone stitch embroidery and a chiffon dress with appliqué woven lacquered disc detail. The design team, Robinson Valentine, wanted a crisp clean look with subtle detailing for the ceremony at Windsor Guildhall. To achieve this, the designer team used two fabrics with very different textures. The lacquered discs were made in Switzerland to Robinson Valentine’s specifications while the hand worked herringbone detail on the coat was embroidered in-house using silk thread. The garment is hand finished. Work on the outfit started on 21st February and continued until the final fitting on Tuesday 5th April. There were two initial meetings followed by eight fittings.

The Duchess of Cornwall wore an elegant court shoe in pale beige suede, with an almond toe and a 5 cm heel by Linda Bennett, designer and founder of LK Bennett. She is known for her elegant and wearable designs.

The Duchess of Cornwall wore a natural straw hat overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with a graphic fountain of feathers, designed by Philip Treacy.

The handbag was an ‘East/West’ clutch bag made from embossed calf leather, lined with suede and made with a half flap. The inside is imprinted with the Launer name and Royal Warrant and also includes a matching coin purse and leather covered mirror.

The Duchess of Cornwall’s hair was prepared by Hugh Green of Hugh and Stephen, based at Ebury Road, London. Her make-up is by Julia B.

Wedding rings

The wedding rings were hand made in court style by Wartski, using Welsh gold supplied by Cambrian Goldfields Limited. The gold used was from the Clogau St. David’s mine and the river Mawdach in the Kings Forest, where it was recovered from deep pools using sub-aqua equipment. It was then refined and alloyed to pass 22ct. gold standard and hallmarked at the London Assay Office.

The car

The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles arrived at and depart from the Guildhall by car, from Windsor Castle. They were driven in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI painted in Royal claret livery, which was used by The Queen for over 25 years. The Phantom VI was presented to The Queen in 1978 for her Silver Jubilee and has been used regularly for official duties since. It was used during The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s State Visit to Russia in 1994 and also by the Earl and Countess of Wessex for their wedding in 1999.

Flowers in the Guildhall

There were growing jasmine plants in the hall. The flowers in the Ascot Room for the Civil Ceremony were cut from the gardens at Highgrove and Raymill. Bunches of Lily of the Valley – a favourite of both the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles – will also decorate the room. Traditionally, Lily of the Valley symbolise the return of happiness. At the request of Mrs Parker Bowles, all flowers and plants were donated to local hospices. Mrs Parker Bowles worked closely with Shane Connolly of Shane Connolly Flowers Ltd for the flowers and arrangements.

Service of Prayer and Dedication

Already at 13.15 celebrity guests began to take their seats in the 15th-century St George’s Chapel at Windsor for the second part of the wedding ceremony, the service of prayer and dedication, that was due to start at 14.30. Among the guests, included Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the Duke of Edinburgh there were all senior British royals, foreign royals, eight governors-general, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, leaders of opposition parties and nearly 800 other guests including screen and stage stars invited as personal friends.

At 14.30 as the strains of The Last Spring by Grieg faded, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh joined the guests for the blessing ceremony in St George’s Chapel and to see their son and daughter-in-law together as a married couple for the first time. The Queen, wearing a cream coat with a diamond brooch, a cream hat and clutching a black patent leather handbag walked to her seat at the front of the chapel as strings played the Adagio from Oboe Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, by Tomaso Albinoni.

At 14.33 the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at St George’s Chapel, Windsor for the dedication and blessing of their marriage. The newly-weds smiled at the assembled guests as they walked up the aisle together and took their positions at the front of the chapel to sing the first hymn, Immortal, Invisible. At 15.09 the couple walked through the west door of St George’s Chapel after the ceremony. For the first time they looked relaxed. They were closely followed by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. While they stood on the chapel’s steps the castle’s bells rang out.

The couple shortly posed for photographers before walking down to the Horseshoe Cloisters to the applause of family, friends and other guests. There some 2000 members of the public had followed the proceedings being broadcasted on loudspeakers. The group included representatives from a number of charities and organisations that are connected to the couple. At 15.20 the Queen and Prince Philip were driven from the chapel while the rest of the Royal Family got back on to the bus. The newlyweds spent some ten minutes chatting to the gathered crowd ands shook hands with some of them. Afterwards the couple were ushered back into their car to be taken to the castle for the official photographs, that were taken by Hugo Burnand and only were released on Monday.

Wedding outfit

The Duchess of Cornwall wore a porcelain blue silk dress with hand painted ikat design, hand embroidered with gold thread work. Tones of blue and gold were the favoured colours. The designer’s starting point was Mrs Parker Bowles’ comment that she liked the style of the velvet dress which they had designed for her to wear for the Gala night at the Royal Opera House. Robinson Valentine believed the dress required a sense of occasion for St George’s Chapel and so the aim was a flowing, elegant line, concentrating on proportion, fit and silhouette. The print and the embroidery create texture whilst retaining the lightness and subtlety of the fabric. The garment is hand finished. A piece of jewelry which belonged to Mrs Parker Bowles’ mother became the inspiration for the fabric design. Robinson Valentine carried out research on embroidery, technique and fabric in the textile collection at the V&A and after in-depth research decided that to achieve the desired effect they would need to create their own fabric. To give the dress a light and effortless appearance, the fabric was initially treated to remove any stiffness and give it more fluidity. The hand embroidery combines five tones of gold thread, creating depth and opulence and was carried out in-house at Robinson Valentine. Work on the outfit started on 21st February and continued until the final fitting on Tuesday 5th April. There were two initial meetings followed by eight fittings.

At the reception, The Duchess of Cornwall wore an court shoe with a soft point toe and a 5.5 cm heel in pale grey shot silk. The shoe had a subtle gold embroidery detail on the toe. It is bespoke and was designed to match the dress. The shoes were designed by Linda Bennett of LK Bennett.

The Duchess of Cornwall wore a gold leafed feather headdress tipped with Swarovski Diamonds designed and made by Philip Treacy.

Bridal bouquet

Mrs Parker Bowles carried a small, simple elegant floral bouquet bound with silk from her dress. Complementing the grey blue of her dress, Auricular flowers in dusty shades of greys and creams with touches of gold, have been mixed with clusters of Lily of the Valley both for the scent and the sentiment. Again, these flowers are cut from English grown plants later to be grown in the gardens at Highgrove. A sprig of myrtle, representing happy marriage, was sent from a well wisher in Cornwall for the bouquet.

Other attires

The Prince wore a black morning suit and grey pin stripe trousers made by Anderson and Sheppard with a grey waistcoat. He wore a stiff collar shirt with a blue and yellow tie. The Prince wore a helibor from his Highgrove garden in his buttonhole.

The Princes William and Harry wore wear black morning suit from Gieves and Hawkes with grey and black pin striped trousers. Harry wore a grey waistcoat and William wore a pale blue waistcoat. They both wore tie-pins given to them from HM The Queen that belonged to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Decoration in and outside the chapel

The main four decorations in The Chapel were: mature English grown flowering trees Malus Evereste – a flowering crabapple named after Sir Edmund Hilary’s conquest of Everest in the Coronation year; the Great White Blossom; and Prunus Hai Haiku, (each about 4 – 5m high) in wooden boxes made by a carpenter at Highgrove. These were under- planted with English meadow such as cowslips, fritillaries, camellias, pulsatilla, anemone, violas and narcissi from The Duchy of Cornwall nurseries. All trees and plants will be planted in Their Royal Highnesses’ gardens at Highgrove and Clarence House as a lasting memory of the day.

Under the Choir screen there were a hedge of creamy-white blossoms to give an elegant reflective mood. Again this is under planted with meadow flowers and grasses.

Decorating the two large candlesticks – a gift to the church from The Prince’s great grandfather, George V, were Banksian roses, Lily of the Valley, Hyacinths flowers (the symbol of enduring love) from Highgrove and Narcissi from the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall.

There were two banks of jonquils and daffodils which were given by a Cornish flower grower. They framed the Galilee porch to welcome The Prince and The Duchess of Cornwall. Mrs Parker Bowles worked closely with Shane Connolly of Shane Connolly Flowers Ltd for the flowers and arrangements.

Order of service

A combination of choral and orchestral music was played during the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George’s Chapel Windsor. The music, which has been chosen by HRH The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles, included some of their favourite pieces such as Bach’s Cantata “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” and excerpts from Handel’s Water Music.

The music for the service is performed by:
Members of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor, Christopher Warren-Green
The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Director of Music,Timothy Byram-Wigfield
Organist, Roger Judd
Soloist, Ekaterina Semenchuk of the Marinsky Theatre
The musical arrangements are by Rosemary Furniss and Julian Milone

Music before the service

Suite from Henry V – Sir William Walton (1902-1983)
Adagio in E – Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Excerpt from Suite No. 3 in G from Water Music – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Excerpt from Suite No. 1 in F from Water Music – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Romance in E Flat Major for String Orchestra – Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
Farewell to Stromness – Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934)
Serenade for Strings – Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Last Spring from Two Elegiac Melodies – Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Adagio from Oboe Concerto No. 2 in D Minor – Tomaso Albinoni (1671-c1751)

All stand as Members of the Royal Family, having been received at the Galilee Porch by the Canons of Windsor, are conducted to their places in the Quire.

All stand as Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are conducted by way of the North Quire Aisle and the Organ Screen to their places in the Quire by the Dean of Windsor.

All stand as Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are conducted to the Quire by way of the North Quire Aisle and the Organ Screen by the Dean of Windsor.

All remain standing as the Choir and Clergy enter the Quire by way of the Nave Aisles and Organ Screen. The Choir and the Succentor proceed to their stalls in the Quire, the Canons of Windsor, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Windsor proceed to their places in the Sanctuary.

Processional Hymn

Words W Chalmers Smith (1824-1908): Music Adapted from a Welsh song set to a hymn in John Roberts’ Caniadau y Cyssegre 1839
All remain standing

IMMORTAL, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest – to both great and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish – but nought changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
’Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

(The congregation remains standing)
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall stand before the High Altar.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Right Reverend Rowan Douglas Williams

The Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.

CHARLES and Camilla, you stand in the presence of God as man and wife to dedicate to him your life together, that he may consecrate your marriage and empower you to keep the covenant and promise you have solemnly declared.

You now wish to affirm your desire to live as followers of Christ, and you have come to him, the fountain of grace, that, strengthened by the prayers of the Church, you may be enabled to fulfil your marriage vows in love and faithfulness.
(All kneel)

Let us keep silence and remember God’s presence with us now.
(All keep silence)

God is love, and they that dwell in love dwell in God and God in them.

Let us pray.

All say:
ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop:
THE sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion, and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith.

All say:
ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop:
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him: Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O GOD our Father, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us that love is the fulfilling of the law; Grant to these thy servants that, loving one another, they may continue in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.

The First Reading: Revelation 21. 1-7

By The Right Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Carey of Clifton

I SAW a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

A Creed fom the Russian Orthodox Liturgy

By Aleksandr Gretchaninov (1864-1956)
Sung by the choir

Véruyu vo yedínago Bóga Ottsá, Fsederzhïtelia, Tvortsá ñébu i zemlí, vídimïm zhe fsem i ñevídimïm. I vo yedínago Ghóspoda Iisúsa Hristá, Sïna Bózhïya, Yedinoródnago, Izhe ot Ottsá rozhdénnago prézhde fseh vek: Svéta ot Svéta, Bóga ístinna ot Bóga ístinna, rozhdénna, ñesotvorénna, yedinosúshchna Ottsú, Imzhe fsia bïsha. Nas rádi chelovék, i náshego rádi spaséñíya, sshédshago s ñebés, i voplotívshagosia ot Dúha Sviáta i Maríi Dévï, i vochelovéchshasia. Raspiátago zhe za nï pri Pontíystem Piláte, i stradávsha, i pogrebénna. I voskrésshago f trétiy deñ po pisáñiyem. I vosshédshago na ñebesá, i sediáshcha odesnúyu Ottsá. I páki griadúshchago so slávoyu sudíti zhïvïm i mértvïm, Yegózhe tsárstviyu ñe búdet kontsá. I v Dúha Sviatágo, Ghóspoda, zhïvotvoriáshchago, Izhe ot Ottsá ishodiáshchago, Izhe so Ottsém i Sïnom spoklañiáyema i sslávima, glagólavshago proróki. Vo yedínu sviátúyu, sobórnuyu, i Apóstolskuyu Tsérkov. Ispoveduyu yedíno kreshchéñiye vo ostavleníye grehóv. Cháyu voskreséñiya mértvïh: i zhïzñi búdushchago véka. A míñ.

I BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

(All stand) Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall stand before the Archbishop.

The Archbishop: CHARLES and Camilla, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage, and your marriage is recognised by law.

The Church of Christ understands marriage to be, in the will of God, the union of a man and a woman, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till parted by death.

Is this your understanding of the covenant and promise that you have made?

Husband and Wife: It is.

The Archbishop: CHARLES, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Husband: That is my resolve, with the help of God.

The Archbishop: CAMILLA, have you resolved to be faithful to your husband, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Wife: That is my resolve, with the help of God.

The Archbishop: HEAVENLY Father, by thy blessing let these rings be to Charles and Camilla a symbol of unending love and faithfulness and of the promises they have made to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARLES and Camilla have here affirmed their Christian understanding and resolve in the marriage which they have begun.

Will you, their families and friends, support and uphold them in their marriage, now and in the years to come?

All say: We will

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall kneel and say together.

HEAVENLY Father, we offer thee our souls and bodies, our thoughts and words and deeds, our love for one another. Unite our wills in thy will, that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop: ALMIGHTY God give you grace to persevere, that he may complete in you the work he has already begun; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE Lord bless you and watch over you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you;
The Lord look kindly on you
and give you peace all the days of your life. Amen.

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall return to their places.

Hymn: Words by Charles Wesley (1707-88), Music Blaenwern, William Rowlands (1860-1937)

(Remain standing)

LOVE Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

The Second Reading from Ode on Intimations of Immortality by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

By actor Mr Timothy West, from the Lectern in the Nave

O JOY! that in our embers
Is something that doth live,
That nature yet remembers
What was so fugitive!
The thought of our past years in me doth breed
Perpetual benediction: not indeed
For that which is most worthy to be blest –
Delight and liberty, the simple creed
Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest,
With new-fledged hope still fluttering in his breast:-
Not for these I raise
The song of thanks and praise;
But for those obstinate questionings
Of sense and outward things,
Fallings from us, vanishings;
Blank misgivings of a Creature
Moving about in worlds not realised,
High instincts before which our mortal Nature
Did tremble like a guilty Thing surprised:
But for those first affections,
Those shadowy recollections,
Which, be they what they may,
Are yet the fountain light of all our day,
Are yet a master light of all our seeing;
Uphold us, cherish, and have power to make
Our noisy years seem moments in the being
Of the eternal Silence: truths that wake,
To perish never;
Which neither listlessness, nor mad endeavour,
Nor Man nor Boy,
Nor all that is at enmity with joy,
Can utterly abolish or destroy!
Hence in a season of calm weather
Though inland far we be,
Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea
Which brought us hither,
Can in a moment travel thither,
And see the Children sport upon the shore,
And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.

Anthem: ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’ – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

NUN komm, der Heiden Heiland, der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt, des sich wundert alle Welt, Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt.

NOW come, the Saviour of the Gentiles, as the Virgin’s Child revealed, at whom the whole world marvels, that God ordained for him such a birth.

Prayers from the Lectern in the Nave

Led by the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend David Conner (all kneel)

ALMIGHTY God who dost send thy Holy Spirit to be the life and light of all thy people, open the hearts of these thy servants to the riches of his grace, that they may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ETERNAL God, true and loving Father, who in Holy Matrimony dost make thy servants one; may their life together witness to thy love in this troubled world; may unity overcome division, forgiveness heal injury and joy triumph over sorrow; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD our Father who, for them that love thee, makest all things work together for the good; we thank thee that, of thy faithfulness, thou dost come out to meet us on our pilgrimage of life. Stay with us now and grant that, as we learn to love thee more, we may deepen our dedication to thy service, and find in thee the fullness of eternal life. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:
OUR Father,
which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Hymn: words H F Lyte (1793-1847), Music John Goss (1800-80), Descant Christopher Robinson (1936)

(All stand)

PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore him;
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before him;
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.

Blessing by the Archbishop

(All kneel)

GOD the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love,
defend you on every side,
and guide you in truth and peace;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

The National Anthem
(All stand)

GOD save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save The Queen!

The Voluntary

Celebration Fanfare – Alun Hoddinott (1929)

Music following the Fanfare

Alla Hornpipe from Water Music Suite No. 2 in D – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Prelude and Fugue in G – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall proceed by way of the Organ Screen to the West Door of the Chapel.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Windsor proceed by way of the North Quire and Nave Aisles to the West Door of the Chapel.

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, and members of the immediate families then proceed by way of the Organ Screen to the West Door of the Chapel.

The Canons of Windsor, the Succentor and the Choir proceed by way of the Organ Screen to the West Door of the Chapel.

Members of the Congregation are asked to leave the Chapel as directed by the Gentlemen Ushers and Lay Stewards.

The reception

After the service of prayer and dedication there was a reception at the state apartments of Windsor Castle hosted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The guests mingled in the Grand Reception Room, St George’s Hall and the Waterloo Chamber. They drank Duchy champagne and were offered smoked salmon on brown bread sandwiches and roast venison with Balmoral redcurrant and port jelly on white bread, as well as egg and cress granary bread sandwiches, potted shrimp bridge rolls and mini Cornish pasties. Those with a sweet tooth enjoyed miniature ice cream cornets, caramel banana slices, strawberry tartlets, glazed mocha fudge, caramelised lemon tarts and scones with Cornish clotted cream and Duchy strawberry jam. The Prince of Wales personally ordered in 20 fruit cakes from Mrs Ethel Richardson, of Carmarthen, Wales, to add to the buffet. Guests said the Queen said: “I’ve got two things to announce to you of the greatest importance. The first is that the Grand National was won by Hedgehunter. The second is to say to you that despite Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles my son has come through and I’m very proud and wish them well.” The Prince of Wales is said to have responded in his own speech saying: “I don’t think I can compete with my mother on racing allusions.”

At 18.05 after a champagne toast, the couple departed for their honeymoon in Scotland via the Castle’s Henry VIII gate. Princes William and Harry had decorated the Bentley which drove the couple away from the castle. The words “Prince” and “Duchess” were sprayed on either side of the windscreen and “Just Married” written on the back windscreen. Bunches of red, white and yellow metallic balloons had been tied to the couple’s car. The car drove away in a convoy of cars with police outriders to the RAF Northolt to fly to Aberdeen for the start of their two-week honeymoon.

Upon arriving at Aberdeen Airport, the couple were greeted with music from the Grampian Police Pipe Band, and met dignitaries including Aberdeen’s Lord and Lady Provost. Then the newlyweds drove to the privacy of their Highland hideaway Birkhall, on the Queen’s Balmoral estate. Around 100 local residents and tourists gathered by the royal bridge in Ballater to welcome the couple.They attended church at Balmoral on Sunday.

The wedding cake

The wedding cake for the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles was made by Dawn Blundone and Mary Robinson who make cakes for the Highgrove Shop. The cake is a single layered plain white, organic, rich fruit cake, 24 inch square with an octagon dome. The square has detailed lattice work and a small initial ‘C’ in the lattice. The corners of the square are decorated with roses, thistles, leeks and daffodils. The octagon is made up of panels with different designs. One panel has a Cipher of The Prince of Wales picturing a coronet, a garter and the three feathers. Another panel features the Crest of the Duchy of Cornwall and another has the Crest of the Duke of Rothesay. A further panel has a coronet surrounded by a pearl cameo and the initial ‘C’. The remaining panels feature roses to represent England, daffodils and leeks to represent Wales and thistles to represent Scotland. The top of the cake has the Crown of the Heir Apparent.

The Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles used the Prince of Wales’s Naval Sword to cut their wedding cake. The sword, which originally belonged to The Prince’s great grandfather, King George V, is used for Investitures. The sword was presented in Liverpool to the then Prince George of Wales on the 20th January 1886. Prince George was accompanying his father Edward VII when he opened the Mersey Tunnel. The sword was presented by the Mayor of Liverpool to commemorate Prince George of Wales receiving his commission into the Navy. The sword was made by Rob Mole and Sons of Birmingham. Engraved on the blade are a crown, an anchor and names of ships that George V served on. Some of these names have been added, belatedly, over the years. The handle of the sword is in the shape of a lions head.

Wedding poem

On the occasion of the wedding of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall poet laureate Andrew Motion wrote a poem. Mr Motion told he had tried to acknowledge the range of feelings people felt about the marriage. He said the relationship “was now running its proper course” and he had used the image of a stream to convey the difficulties the couple had faced. Prince Charles had sent him a letter, and the couple “seemed to like it very much”, he added.

Spring Wedding

I took your news outdoors, and strolled a while
In silence on my square of garden-ground
Where I could dim the roar of arguments,
Ignore the scandal-flywheel whirring round,

And hear instead the green fuse in the flower
Ignite, the breeze stretch out a shadow-hand

To ruffle blossom on its sticking points,
The blackbirds sing, and singing take their stand.

I took your news outdoors, and found the Spring
Had honoured all its promises to start
Disclosing how the principles of earth
Can make a common purpose with the heart.

The heart which slips and sidles like a stream
Weighed down by winter-wreckage near its source –
But given time, and come the clearing rain,
Breaks loose to revel in its proper course.

Guestlist

British Royal Family

  • Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and The Duke of Edinburgh
  • Prince William of Wales (also civil wedding)
  • Prince Harry of Wales (also civil wedding)
  • The Princess Royal and Timothy Laurence (also civil wedding)
  • Peter Phillips (also civil wedding)
  • Zara Phillips (also civil wedding)
  • The Duke of York (also civil wedding)
  • Princess Beatrice of York (also civil wedding)
  • Princess Eugenie of York (also civil wedding)
  • The Earl and Countess of Wessex (also civil wedding)
  • Viscount and Viscountess Linley (also civil wedding)
  • Daniel and Lady Sarah Chatto (also civil wedding)
  • The Duke and Duchess of Kent Princess Alexandra of Kent (also civil wedding)
  • James and Julia Ogilvy
  • Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
  • The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

  • Tom Parkes Bowles and Sara Buys (also civil wedding)
  • Laura Parker Bowles and Harry Lopes (also civil wedding)
  • Major Bruce Shand (also civil wedding)
  • Mark Shand (also civil wedding)
  • Simon Elliot and Annabel Elliot née Shand (also civil wedding)
  • Ben Elliot (also civil wedding)
  • Katie Elliot (also civil wedding)
  • Luke and Alice Irwin née Elliot (also civil wedding)

Royal and noble guests

  • The King of Bahrain
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
  • Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
  • Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
  • Prince Turki Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia
  • Princess Nouf bint Fahad of Saudi Arabia
  • Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia
  • Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania
  • Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia
  • Lord and Lady Romsey
  • The Duke and The Duchess of Wellington
  • The Duke of Westminster

Politicians and Commonwealth

  • Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mrs Cherie Blair
  • The Rt Hon. Michael Howard and Mrs Michael Howard
  • The Rt Hon. Charles Kennedy and Mrs Charles Kennedy
  • The Rt Hon. Jack McConnell, First Minister for Scotland and Miss Hannah McConnell
  • The Rt Hon. Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales and Mrs Rhodri Morgan
  • The Rt Hon. Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Carlisle
  • The Governor-General of Australia and Mrs Marlena Jeffery
  • The Governor-General of Barbados The Governor-General of Canada and John Ralston Saul
  • The Queen’s Representative in the Cook Islands and Lady Goodwin
  • The Governor-General of Grenada and Lady Williams
  • The Commonwealth Secretary-General and Ms Clare de Lore
  • The Governor-General of New Zealand and Mr Peter Cartwright
  • The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Lady Matane
  • The Governor-General of St Christopher and Nevis

Among the guests at The Service of Prayer and Dedication were also members of The Prince’s and The Duchess’s staff from Clarence House, Highgrove, Birkhall and Sandringham.

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