“The Wedding of the Century” .. Charles and Diana a royal marriage that turned into a tragedy
In July 1981, in front of gleeful crowds in London and 750 million spectators around the world, Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, married the shy young Diana Spencer... But the "marriage of the century" four decades ago later turned into a tragedy.
At 32, after years of romantic adventures, the prince was able to produce an heir to the British throne thanks to his marriage to the aristocratic young woman who was barely 20 years old.
Several days ago, thousands of people camped out on the three-kilometre road between Buckingham Palace and St Paul's Cathedral, hoping to see the wedding procession.
All shops wore the royal suit, as British flags were placed on the facades that were decorated with pictures of the duo, according to the news broadcast by Agence France-Presse during the coverage of this huge event.
And "Diana's haircut" is required in all hairdressing salons in the British capital.
A thousand armed police and nearly two thousand military police and cavalry were tasked with maintaining security on the occasion, in the largest security mobilization since World War II.
At 10:35 am, applause mixed with enthusiastic whistles when Prince Charles' carriage appeared at the gates of Buckingham Palace, according to the news published by Agence France-Presse on the occasion.
Then Diana appeared from Clarence House, the residence of the future Princess of Wales, dressed in ivory white.
Along the way, hundreds of thousands of people cheered and waved British flags, while 750 million people watched the historic event around the world in front of television screens.
People Talk
Diana arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral holding the arm of her father, Count Spencer. The crinoline dress with a white veil extending more than seven meters was the focus of the press in the days leading up to the event.
Beneath the cathedral's high stone vaults, 2,500 hand-picked guests are distributed, including Nancy Reagan in bright pink, the King of Tonga seated in his carved wooden chair, and the new French president, François Mitterrand.
When the "yes" were exchanged before the Archbishop of Canterbury, the future king's voice trembled and could hardly be heard as he whispered his consent to the wedding vows.
The tension was also evident on Diana, which was evident, especially when she accidentally pronounced the names of Prince Charles in reverse. Then the Duke of Cornwall put the golden drapery of Wales on the little finger of the left hand of his young bride, in keeping with the Anglican tradition which stipulates that a woman should be held alone.
On their return to Buckingham Palace, the crowds exulted as the newlyweds exchanged a quick kiss on the balcony.
Wide disagreements
In June 1982, Diana gave birth to their first son, William, and then the second son, Harry, two years later. Although portrayed in the early years as a fairy tale love story, this marriage turned out to be completely arranged.
During a television interview dedicated to the official announcement of the couple's engagement, British journalist Charles asked if he was in love, which embarrassed the Queen's eldest son, who replied, "It depends on your concept of love."
The difference was evident between the two, Charles was the embodiment of the strict and cold monarchy, while Diana aroused admiration wherever she went with her elegance and sympathy with others.
But her public image concealed a wounded woman: she knew that her husband was still in a relationship with his young sweetheart Camilla Parker-Bowles.
And soon chaos reigned in the couple's relationship, between betrayals and settling accounts in the press.
The marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
The tragic death of Diana in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36, in a car accident with her new, wealthy Egyptian lover Dodi Al-Fayed, caused a wave of affection that pervaded the world.
Charles married Camilla in 2005 in a civil ceremony away from the limelight, far different from the opulence of his 1981 wedding with Diana.
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