How Queen Camilla Handled the Boos and Other Drama the Day She Married King Charles
King Charles III and Queen Camilla (formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles) have been married for two decades, with their love story beginning more than 50 years ago. But their journey together doesn’t mirror a fairy tale. Neither does their wedding or the days leading up to it as there was quite a bit of drama.
For starters, because both Camilla and then-Prince Charles were married before, Queen Elizabeth II publicly announced that she would not attend the couple’s civil wedding ceremony and instead go to only the blessing ceremony.
On top of that they had chosen April 8 as their wedding date but ended up having to switch it on short notice after Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, and the Vatican announced that his funeral was to be held on April 8. Charles attended the funeral on behalf of his mother and therefore, the wedding had to be pushed back 24 hours.
The morning of the wedding, Camilla developed a case of sinusitis, as well as cold feet and needed the help of a few family members to coax her out of bed. She also worried about supporters of the late Princess Diana showing up at the venue to protest and boo her.
So how did she handle it all? A body language expert is looking back and pointing out what he saw from Camilla that day that the rest of missed.
Expert shares what was striking about Camilla that day
Despite a breakdown, a date change, a public rejection by Queen Elizabeth to attend the civil ceremony, a small splattering of boos from a few who gathered in the streets, and her own nerves, Camilla actually handled things very well that day according to an expert.
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.” Stanton also analyzed footage from that day and was impressed with how well Camilla handled everything.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, he explained: “Something that instantly strikes me about Camilla is how she exudes confidence on her wedding day. She was never a meek and mild personality, which could be something that drew Charles to her. She is a strong woman and her happiness at her wedding was evident for all.
“She shows genuine emotion with a wide smile that registers on her whole face and causes smile lines in the corners of her eyes. She’s very in charge of her emotions and a very authentic person who isn’t afraid to display her feelings in public.”
Charles didn’t handle things as well as his wife on their wedding day
But according to Stanton, the same can’t be said for how Charles handled things as he looked much more nervous than his bride that day.
The expert noted: “Despite a life in the spotlight, it’s clear Charles lacked the confidence that Camilla had so naturally. While he may have tried to put on a confident front, he would give away his nerves through what’s known as leakage — which is non-conscious gestures that give away a person’s real feelings.
“They would be self-soothing gestures, such as Charles playing with his cufflinks or putting his hands in his pockets. These gestures would be an attempt to reassure himself but they were a clear sign he was introverted and sought reassurance. He would also develop a red face or red neck, which is a sign of nerves. But we see much less of this over the years, so it’s clear that Camilla has helped his confidence and happiness grow.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
