Queen Camilla made key wedding decision because of Princess Diana, says royal butler
As Queen Camilla celebrates her 79th birthday, royal fans have been looking back at some of the defining moments of her life in the spotlight.
One that continues to spark conversation almost two decades later is her wedding to King Charles III (then Prince Charles) - in particular, her decision to ditch the traditional white wedding dress in favour of a pale blue get-up.
Now, a former royal butler believes there was one key reason behind the controversial choice.
Camilla and Charles married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in Berkshire on 9 April 2005, following years of speculation and scrutiny surrounding their relationship.
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Their nuptials were always going to be one of the most closely watched royal events of the decade, given that just eight years had passed since the death of Princess Diana, and many members of the public still associated Charles with his first marriage.
A wedding under scrutiny
As a result, every aspect of the day, especially Camilla's outfit, was picked apart.
The bride, who'd been married before to British army officer Andrew Parker-Bowles, surprised millions of viewers who tuned in from their living rooms by choosing an elegant pale blue silk chiffon coat dress for the occasion, over a white fairytale gown.
The oyster-blue coat had been designed by Anna Valentine, while milliner Philip Treacy constructed the dramatic feathered Camila paired with it.
Later that day, the mother-of-two changed into a second blue-and-gold embroidered coat and matching dress for the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Given the legacy of the late Princess of Wales' elaborate ivory taffeta wedding dress - which came complete with a 25-foot train - many royal watchers couldn't help but draw comparisons between the two looks.
The Diana comparison
According to former royal butler Grant Harrold, however, that may have been exactly what Camilla was trying to avoid.
"I think this was a strong statement from Camilla," he exclusively told Tyla, in partnership with OLBG. "The King's first wife, Princess Diana, wore an incredibly iconic white dress. I believe Camilla's wedding dress being pale blue was an effort to not replicate his previous marriage.
"This shows that Queen Camilla is incredibly strong and confident within herself."
Harrold is also convinced, however, that the colour choice also wasn't a matter of personal taste.
He continued: "I believe when a senior royal is deciding on a wedding outfit, there is a balance between the style and personal taste that they need to focus on. For Queen Camilla, it was incredibly important for her to ensure the public messaging surrounding the dress was positive.
More than just fashion
"It is no secret her relationship with the public has been turbulent, so this had to be a huge moment for her."
The former butler - who lived with the couple at Highgrove between 2004 and 2011 - added: "There would have been plenty of discussions on the decision of her wearing blue. This was a chance for her to really make her own mark, and she pulled it off."
For Harrold, the dress choice was also a sign that Camilla understood the importance of creating a look that felt fully 'her', rather than one that invited direct comparisons with the former flames.
"This was an exercise of restraint," Harrold said. "It was an effort to keep the focus on the marriage, rather than the classic royal family fairytale moment."
It also served more than just a necessary protocol, given that she'd been married before.
A look of her own
"This was an attempt to make their wedding more unique," he went on. "We all remember the iconic headpiece and dress, in the same way we remember the late Diana's iconic wedding dress."
"Camilla knew that her moment would be overshadowed if she had tried to replicate anything. She owned the historic occasion, and really put her own personal mark on it."
Topics: Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Royal Family, Princess Diana, UK News
Rhianna Benson