Camilla married the then Prince of Wales at a civil ceremony in 2005. Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, Charles was made King, with Camilla taking on the role of Queen Consort

Queen Camilla was said to have one particular complaint when marrying King Charles as she questioned official royal protocol. Camilla, 77, will celebrate her 20th anniversary with Charles while on a royal tour in Italy as the couple’s first major foreign trip will include an audience with the Pope and a visit to the wondrous Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Their special day on April 9 is, however, a bittersweet moment for the King. After tying the knot with Camilla in 2005, his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, died on the same day in 2021. Charles and Camilla wed in a civil service before having a church blessing at Windsor Castle.

The pair faced a lot of backlash following their marriage as infidelity rumours swirled following his previous marriage to the late Princess Diana. Now, a new book has revealed one of Camilla’s concerns ahead of their wedding.

Camilla was said to be concerned about royal protocol when marrying Charles ( 
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An insider revealed in his new book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants – which has been excerpted in The Times – that Camilla asked her soon-to-be-husband: “Can’t we get away from all this protocol? It’s all bo****ks.”

Charles, who is said to hate swearing, allegedly replied: “You’re doing it [becoming queen] for me, darling.” A Palace staff member was said to have overheard the conversation, telling royal expert Tom Quinn that Camilla “hated the idea of being Queen”.

The couple first met in the 1970s, developing a close friendship. The pair were married to different partners, with Charles wedding Princess Diana in 1981 and Camilla marrying Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973.

Following their divorces – Camilla in 1995 and Charles in 1996 – their relationship gradually became more public. In 2005, they married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall.

In 2022, following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Charles ascended to the throne, and Camilla became Queen Consort. Their trip to Italy marks a major turn for the King as he commits to a full work schedule this year while still having weekly cancer treatment.

A royal source said: “The King and Queen are delighted to be heading to Italy to celebrate the ties between our two countries, especially in such an important period for their hosts. The fact their milestone anniversary will fall during the visit is a welcome addition. Although it will be a working day, they are sure to find some time to have a small, private celebration.”

In Rome, the King and Queen will meet Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic church, and visit the Sistine Chapel, famed for its spectacular frescoes by Michelangelo and being the site where the next pope is chosen. Charles’ first meeting with a pope after his 1996 divorce from the late Princess Diana came in 2009, when he, along with Camilla, met Pope Benedict.