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CNN Live Event/Special

Prince Charles and Camilla Get Married

Aired April 09, 2005 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I'm Rosemary Church at the CNN center. A special one hour look at the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles is coming up for our international bureaus and would like to welcome those of you who join us in the United States. But first here's a quick check of the headlines we've been following.
Nine days of official mourning for Pope John Paul II have started with a mass at St. Peter's Basilica. The college of cardinals will begin a conclave to elect a new pope on April 18th.

Two Iraqi civilians have been killed and at least 13 wounded in a car bombing in Mosul. It's the latest in a series of deadly attacks Saturday, the second anniversary of the fall of Saddam's regime. Thousands of Iraqis are marking the date with anti-American protests in Baghdad. The demonstrators want U.S.-led troops to leave the country.

Israeli soldiers have shot and killed three Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian security sources say the three were teenagers playing football. They say the boys were chasing a ball toward a border fence when they were shot. The Israeli army says the group was in an unauthorized area and ignored warning shots to stop.

Accused serial bomber Eric Rudolph will plead guilty to several blasts in the U.S. southeast. Authorities say the move will keep Rudolph off death row and that he will receive four life sentences in prison. Rudolph is charged with bombing a women's clinic in 1998 and three attacks in Atlanta, including the centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996.

An already tragic story takes another gruesome turn. Authorities in the U.S. say a suspected child molester and killer told police he buried his 9-year-old victim alive. Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her home in late February and her body was found across the street nearly a month later. John Couey had been staying there with a relative. He has a 30-year criminal history. Those are the headlines. I'm Rosemary Church. Coming up next in the special, a royal wedding with Anderson cooper and Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wedding day at Windsor. Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker-Bowles.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A trip to the altar 35 years in the making, a controversial love that's stood the test of time, a formal invitation now to join us for a royal wedding. COOPER: It is the day some thought would never come. Prince Charles has finally married his long-time love, Camilla. I'm Anderson Cooper.

ANDERSON: And I'm Becky Anderson. The royal couple finally said I do at a private civil ceremony in Windsor. A traditional church service followed.

COOPER: From the vows to the celebrity guests and those mad hats. There, we see Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles leaving for their honeymoon. They are off after this lovely day here in Windsor. Paula Hancocks has the highlights of Charles' and Camilla's big day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The smiles say it all. After a 35-year on again, off again romance filled with scandal and heartbreak, they're finally married. Charles and his new wife, who now answers to her royal highness duchess of Cornwall, wanted a low-key affair and it was certainly that. It's not often you see the royal family travel by bus. Princes William and Harry getting almost as big a cheer as the happy couple themselves.

The religious blessing at St. George's chapel in Windsor castle was far more reminiscent of royal weddings past, an impressive guest list of about 750, this part also attended by the queen and Prince Philip. In the wedding blessing, the couple recited a line of repentance from the book of common prayer, a line many have considered an acknowledgement of their prior adultery.

There was an element of show biz about the day, a few celebrities among the attendants. Formalities over, the royal couple emerged relaxed, smiling and waving, chatting to a select few of the public.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's fantastic. It's a wonderful atmosphere. I think everyone is very happy for the couple to finally be together.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it was very quick, but I must say what I saw of her, she looked absolutely splendid.

HANCOCKS: The public part over, Charles and Camilla joined their guests for a two-hour reception before heading off to Scotland for their honeymoon. It wasn't the fairy tale wedding that Charles had with Diana. It was more like a fairy tale for grown-ups, both previously divorced, both in their 50s and both looking delighted. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Windsor, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: As we heard from Paula, even though the couple married in a civil service, they still got to walk down the aisle.

COOPER: They certainly did. That was for the church blessing which happened after the civil service at Windsor castle chapel - at St. George's Chapel, which was led by the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan (ph) Williams. Here is some of that service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Some of the sights and the sounds of the church service where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles wedding day at Windsor. Royal watchers are out in force today, of course.

ANDERSON: The man who broke the story of Charles and Camilla's engagement joins us now. He's Robert Jobson and he's following the festivities very closely. Robert, your thoughts?

ROBERT JOBSON, ROYALS COMMENTATOR: We just saw the Prince of Wales and the duchess leave the Windsor castle there. It's quite fun really. They had the balloons on the car. You have prince and duchess on the wind screen. It was almost the work of Prince Harry and William, perhaps, who tried to bring a bit of joy into this occasion. They're quite fun-loving guys. I should imagine they were behind that.

COOPER: When you saw the couple arriving at guild hall for this service, first, the princes, Harry and William came. Then it was Charles and Camilla arriving together. But we didn't see the queen arriving. Why wasn't the queen there and there's been a lot of talk about what that really means.

JOBSON: Well, the reality on that one is it's difficult for the queen. She's got a dual role as mother and as monarch. The truth is, as supreme governor of the Church of England, it was a difficult choice for her to make not to turn up for the civil ceremony. I understand actually it was also with the duke of Edinburgh not being there and also the fact that he was going to be in Germany and coming back late, was important too.

But the truth is, I don't think it was a major snag. It was set by Buckingham Palace to be a low-key event. I think that Buckingham Palace did their best to keep it as low-key as possible, even though there was a massive royal show of people. It was quick, in and out. The main focus was on St. George's chapel, the religious, dedication service, which I think really is what they wanted to show. It was almost like watching a royal wedding of old. And that way, I think that's what Buckingham Palace and Clarence House wanted to portray.

ANDERSON: There were just 30 guests of course at the actual marriage at the guild hall, the civil ceremony. There was some 800 guests, of course, at the blessing at St. George's chapel. Who do we see?

JOBSON: Well we saw a number of people, Andrew Parker-Bowles, of course, Camilla's first husband. We saw a lot of show biz personalities such as Phil Collins, (INAUDIBLE) Kenneth Brener (ph). There was -- also, there were a wide ranging guests there, including the prime minister, of course, Tony Blair of Great Britain, and all the leaders of the opposition and the liberal parties. So there's a wide spectrum of people there, mainly reflecting the organizations that the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles are party to. But also their friends from social life as well as dignitaries, ambassadors, etcetera. So it did actually have the feel of a proper royal wedding, that particular part of it, the civil ceremony was a quick 20 minutes, in and out. They just seemed to be wanting to get away from it as quickly as possible.

COOPER: For me the strangest thing was seeing Joan Rivers at the service afterwards who's made fun of royal family, of course, for years, but apparently now is part of the royal family or at least friends of the royal family. Let's talk a little bit about the princes, William and Harry. They were there for the civil ceremony. They were there in the chapel afterward. What was this day like for them?

JOBSON: Obviously it was a difficult day for both princes, William and Harry. I think they've been very supportive of the Prince of Wales, their father, because every son wants their father to be happy. There's that double-edged side to this, of course, Camilla Parker-Bowles was central to the breakup of the marriage of Charles and Diana, no matter what pro-Charles fans say. There's no doubt about that. You only have to speak to people close to the Princess of Wales to understand that that is the case.

And it's typical for them. I think that Prince William, in particular, it was clearly more of a diplomat in his shows -- the shows that he's quite close to his father and able to bridge the gap, the problems that have arisen between Camilla and the boys. Harry, a bit more of an edge to him. I think Camilla has said that to her friends, she's not quite sure what to make of him. I think that's probably the best way, keep him at arm's length perhaps.

ANDERSON: All right. Robert, thank you very much indeed. For the time being, Robert Jobson, a royal commentator. Now Joan Rivers may have been embraced by the royal family, but is the public embracing the new royal couple? COOPER: That of course is the question. Richard Quest has spent the day in the midst of the crowds. He joins us now from the streets of Windsor, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that Rolls Royce, when it left, who was responsible for writing just married on the back in shaving foam and on the windows, the letters C and C? I suspect the young princes may have some serious questions to answer. As you can see, things have quieted down quite a lot. It's me, the policemen, Queen Victoria, and Debbie and Nancy from the Carolinas. Hello, good afternoon to you ladies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. How are you?

QUEST: Well, what a day. Tell me what your thoughts are about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We loved it. It was great being here in all the festivities that were low key.

QUEST: Low key.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Low key, and driving too fast so we could not see.

QUEST: You've been here since 5:00 this morning, 5:30 this morning?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. We locked our chairs to the fence last night so we would have a great spot. We came to Windsor just for the wedding.

QUEST: You did not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did.

QUEST: Now you two have been friends for 35 years, which is just about as long as Charles and Camilla have been dating. Was it worth it, ladies?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was definitely worth it. We've had a great time here. The people of Windsor are wonderful. We've met people from all over the world and we were able to see all of the royal family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We loved it. It was great! I'm glad we came.

QUEST: Right. One thing I do want to show you, very closely, is this. I'm not being personal when I -- the prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall, but the key point is, note the date, 8th of April, 2005. It is the wrong date. And, therefore, that is going to be worth money in the future. Did you know that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, that's correct. We collect royal memorabilia so it's great to have gotten all the collectibles here this week.

QUEST: Did you feel that you were more royal than the Brits themselves here today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've gotten a lot of attention, coming from the United States.

QUEST: Ladies, many thanks, indeed, for joining us. Thanks for talking to us. That's the way things look down here. I wanted to introduce you to some of the rest of the crowd. Did you have a good day? Where have you come from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've come from Bristol. We're originally Mexican.

QUEST: Mexican and what did you think? Did you get to see them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got to see them when they left the castle indeed yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Briefly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Briefly. They came up very quick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She looked wonderful.

QUEST: She looked lovely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes she does, definitely.

QUEST: Right, well, but it was all so fast. Many thanks indeed for talking to us. That's the way you have it from here down in the crowd. One can only wonder Anderson and Becky, one does wonder. I wonder what she makes of it all, Queen Victoria. Is she amused? We are not amused.

COOPER: I imagine she's not, Richard Quest down in the crowd, Richard thanks very much. Still to come, a lot ahead in this special. Did the bride's wardrobe pass muster with the fashion critics?

ANDERSON: You're watching CNN's special coverage of the royal wedding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Those of course were two of the big stars today, Prince William and Prince Harry here to attend the wedding of their father to the man -- to the woman, Camilla Parker-Bowles, now known as her royal highness, the duchess of Cornwall. All you new royal watchers now have a whole new royal family to watch.

ANDERSON: And like many 21st Century families, it's blended, with the family tree branching out to include step parents, siblings and the rest of them. (INAUDIBLE) has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNKNOWN CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're in the public eye just as much as their father. Princes William and Harry are making a big show of support at their dad's wedding day. But isn't this just about family unity and being good loyal sons? After all, the woman marrying their father and who's now their step mum is the very same woman who many say was responsible for the breakup of their parents' marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Princes William and Harry are not boys anymore. They're young men. They've got love lives of their own. So I think they've grown up with the whole Camilla question ever since Princess Diana's death. It's always been on their mind. But I'm sure they'll take it with the maturity that they're showing in their growing years.

UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT: Some describe the wedding as a social mine field for Princes William and Harry. As one put it, they have to be very careful not to put a step out of line just for their father's sake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly Princes William and Harry don't live in the pockets of Charles and Camilla. The reality is, they don't see very much of her at all actually. The truth is, they will obviously tolerate her and be polite to her and civil to her, but I would think it would be very difficult for any sons, whoever they are, to show so much compassion to a woman who effectively wrecked their mother's marriage to their father.

UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT: Insiders say Harry still has a difficult time with Camilla. A British royal watcher says she tried to win him over, but he could not forget his mother. As for William, he has learned to be a lot more pragmatic. Whatever their differences with their new mom, the boys appear to have put them aside, at least for today. (INAUDIBLE) CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Prince Charles and the new duchess of Cornwall are on their way to Scotland for their honeymoon.

COOPER: Joining us now with more on the day's events, Jennie Bond, a former BBC royals correspondent. Jennie was such a close observer of the royals, viewers often noted that her outfit always matched the queen's wherever she went. That's not the case today. Jennie, what are you going to remember from today?

JENNIE BOND, FMR BBC ROYALS CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to remember a day of great joy and actually, amazement that in two short months, we have come to this day. Because when I heard two months ago after 14 years of covering the royals, I was phoned when I was on a train and told that these two were going to get married, I thought it was April Fool's day. I thought it was a joke. I was (INAUDIBLE). It was an idea that was untenable really just three or four months ago and now, they've gone ahead and they've done it and I think that's good for them and good for the monarchy. ANDERSON: The wedding plans have been dogged by the sort of problems you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, of course, the problems with whether this wedding was legal. There were problems with the venue and then issue about whether the queen was going to arrive.

COOPER: Who was going to pay for security.

ANDERSON: All of those things. Ultimately, on the day, do you think it was all worth it?

BOND: I think it was for them. I think they'll be heading off now toward Scotland with great relief in their hearts and they'll be sitting down later tonight with a large glass of whiskey, I should think, and cuddling up as Mr. and Mrs. Obviously I think there's been a huge amount has gone wrong, but I think it might have played into their hands in the end because I think that many of the British public really in the end felt some sympathy for them, particularly for Camilla, I mean on her wedding day (INAUDIBLE). I mean, what else could have gone wrong? But today, it went well, though she was nervous.

ANDERSON: She was?

COOPER: She didn't seem nervous. How do you think she looked in terms of what she was wearing? Also, is this a new beginning for the royals, at least for Camilla?

BOND: It's the end of one chapter and very much the beginning of a new one. I thought she looked sensational actually. I've always said that she's much better looking in the flesh. I've met her a few times and she's much better looking. She doesn't photograph very well but today, she really turned it on. I thought she looked stunning, first in that cream outfit and then the blue gown she wore for the religious ceremony. I couldn't quite see what she was wearing for going away, but I am sure she looked good too.

ANDERSON: Not being glib, Jennie, is this the end of the Diana era?

BOND: Well, Diana will live on in all of our hearts and Diana was very special. I knew her really quite well. In fact she once told me in a private conversation at Kensington Palace, she said, do you know I think we should all recognize that Camilla always has been, always will be the love of Charles' life. And she said, I think she's been rather discreet and rather loyal and perhaps deserves some form of recognition. Diana said that to me one day. Now on another day, I know perfectly well, she would describe Camilla as the rottweiler but I think Diana had resigned herself to the fact that nothing was going to break this enduring love that Charles had for Camilla. And I think the British public now will come to accept that and warm to her.

COOPER: What do you think is at the core of their relationship? I mean Charles was 22 when they met. She was 23. She was outgoing, from all the descriptions. He is somewhat more reserved. How do they blend together? What does one give to the other? BOND: They're friends more than anything. They also share a lot of the same interests. She's a country woman at heart. She scrubs up well, as we say in this country. She does. But she'll be very happy to put on her jeans and her Welly (ph) boots later, so they have a lot in common, hunting, horses, dogs. She supports him. She mothers him a little bit. She pampers him. He's a self pitying individual sometimes and so when he's feeling all morose and put upon, she'll put her arms around him, there, there, darling. And she is also lusty and raunchy and good fun.

COOPER: Goodness. Dob smacked (ph), Jennie. Dob smacked, I tell you.

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) What will the papers do if public opinion turns in favor of them Jennie? It's going to be a nightmare for the press, isn't it? Thank you very much indeed, Jennie Bonds, royal watcher.

COOPER: Great to talk to you. After the prayer service and before the reception, Charles and Camilla took some time to meet with well wishers from the public.

ANDERSON: Not just anyone, mind you.

(AUDIO GAP)

ANDERSON: Windsor castle crowd, most of them came from charities supported by the prince or his chums.

COOPER: Among them was a true royal fan, a woman. That's them meeting and greeting and pressing the flesh, as we say in the United States. I don't think they say that here, a woman who wrote a poem for the couple to mark the occasion. In return, she received a wedding invitation. Malika Kapour (ph) met with the lucky lady getting ready for this very big day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALIKA KAPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the sleepy town of Leek (ph) in northern England, one of the locals has become a right royal celebrity. She will be making a guest appearance at Saturday's Windsor wedding.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I keep thinking I'm going to wake up from a dream. I'm dreaming. I can't believe it's happening.

KAPOUR: How it happened, Andrea says, is just as unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought I would encourage them. I thought it would make them smile a little bit.

KAPOUR: So, she penned a poem for the royal couple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll fly the flag and wish them well. They deserved some luck, very much so well. KAPOUR: Little did the unofficial poet laureate realize she'd be rewarded with tickets to the wedding. Well, almost. Her family received four passes to stand outside the castle. Just in case the royals stopped to greet her, Andrea is getting prepared. That means making time for the local paper, even while she's at the hairdressers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's beautiful. I'll feel good tomorrow.

KAPOUR: The big day dawns, time to wear the hat for real. Andrea and her family leave their hotel for the castle. She walks confidently through the crowds, clutching the tickets and camera that will get her that royal glimpse. Their big day was also their big day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without a doubt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll never have a day like this ever again as long as I live. It's the most fantastic time.

KAPOUR: Andrea and her family were in this crowd outside the castle. Though they didn't get to shake hands with the newlyweds, they aren't disappointed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. Next time.

Malika Kapour, CNN, Windsor, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Still to come...

COOPER: She said she was going for crisp, clean and subtle and I'm not talking about Becky Anderson. The question is, did the new duchess of Cornwall hit her mark with what she was wearing?

ANDERSON: A wedding fashion after the break.

COOPER: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're watching a royal wedding.

COOPER: Our special coverage of the royal wedding. The bride wore ivory.

ANDERSON: Ivory. After more than half a dozen fittings, (INAUDIBLE) had at least that many.

COOPER: Are you kidding?

ANDERSON: I did. Camilla Parker Bowles turned out in a chiffon dress topped by a silk coat.

COOPER: For the church blessing, however, she changed into a pale blue, long-sleeved silk gown that swept the floor. I thought it looked a little "Matrix"-y, but it was lovely. Meanwhile, Prince Charles' formal morning suit was well, formal. So how did the pair fare overall in the style department?

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) too bad, not nearly as badly as she could have done. People thought it could be (INAUDIBLE) that would be a disaster as far as the British public were concerned.

COOPER: We're joined by Jess Wood (ph) of "In Style" magazine in our London bureau. Jess, how did Camilla Parker-Bowles do? Jess, if you can hear us, how did Camilla Parker-Bowles do?

JESS WOOD, IN STYLE MAGAZINE: Well, I think the general feeling here is that she did very well. I think the first outfit for the civil ceremony was -- she had to tread a really careful line between not looking too much like the mother of the bride, which was a risk, considering that she's a lady of 57, but not wanting to look too sort of kind of virginal or wearing anything that could sort of look too young. So, I think it was a dignified choice by London-based couturiers Robins and Ballantine (ph) and a great hat by the king of milliners Philip Tracy (ph). So I think she did very well.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Philip Tracey has designed hats I understand for Madonna and Marilyn Manson. I don't know that Marilyn Manson wore hats, but apparently he does. What about what Camilla wore to the actual ceremony afterwards?

JESS WOOD (ph), IN STYLE MAGAZINE: I think that was slightly more regal. It was a great choice. I think the color, the kind of duck egg blue was very flattering. And actually the back, very sort of important to bear in mind how she was going to look from the back. Because of course she had to kneel down in front of the congregation and there was a kind of length to it, to the coat that she wore over the dress and beautiful gold embroidery that I think kind of worked quite well. I think it was flattering for her fair skin and went well with her coloring. So, I think, you know, it was a dignified choice.

ANDERSON: Whether she liked it or not, she's had to change her style, hasn't she? After all, she's from the sort of horsy set in England and hadn't really cared much about her fashion and style before so I mean the British public expects her to be smart. She's no Diana is she, at the end of the day, but she's expected to be smart.

WOOD: She certainly isn't. I think over the past few years, we've seen a real concerted effort to smarten her up. I think she's kind of made a real effort. Apparently, I've actually heard that she's lost by some reports almost a stone in weight prior to the wedding. And she does look trim. Her hair has been lightened, apparently. I've also heard talk of having her teeth whitened and caps. Her makeup is very soft and flattering, certainly not the same Camilla that we've seen before. I think in the past couple of years, I think she's really, there has been a real effort to kind of just, you know, give her a slightly more sleek image. She has been wearing designer clothes. She's a fan of Valentino, designers such as Armani have lent her clothes and I think, you know, she has certainly smartened up.

COOPER: Jess Wood, thank you very much from "In Style" magazine. Valentino was actually even at the church service or we saw him in the guest crowd.

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) But then you would expect him to.

COOPER: I would hope so. Much more to come in this hour. It's our special coverage of the royal wedding continues.

ANDERSON: Prince Charles had a fairy tale wedding the first time around. Now it's a different story. We'll wrap up the day's events for you.

COOPER: Plus the royals got a warm reception from the crowd today. Will they get a cold shoulder later on? We're going to find out as our special coverage continues. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Hello. Welcome back to our CNN special royal wedding. I'm Becky Anderson.

COOPER: And I'm Anderson Cooper. We consider ourselves the royal family of news today in Windsor. After more than three decades that have been filled with plenty of scandal and heartbreak, Prince Charles has finally, finally married the love of his life, Camilla Parker- Bowles. Penny Marshall (ph) takes a look back on the day that finally was.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PENNY MARSHALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the prince and his bride were being driven the short distance from Windsor castle to the guild hall this morning, history prepared to record a royal marriage without precedence. This, a royal love affair finally without hindrance. Their long and difficult journey to the altar was about to end.

Prince William, a witness, and his brother, Harry, led the close family members into Windsor's guild hall for a short, private civil ceremony from which 20 minutes later, the married couple emerged, the prince leading Camilla Parker-Bowles out from the shadows on his arm, his former lover and mistress, now his wife and the new duchess of Cornwall.

It was in the historic and royal surroundings of St. George's chapel, Windsor Castle though, that two hours later, man and wife came to receive a formal church blessing. The queen, head of the church, present this time to see her son and heir kneel beside his wife as they joined the congregation and asked God's forgiveness for their sins.

IN UNISON: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word and deed. We earnestly repent and are utterly sorry for these our misdoings. Remembrance of them is grievous unto us. The burden of them is intolerable. Forgive us all that has passed.

MARSHALL: Eight hundred guests had come to watch the Prince of Wales and his wife make their vows, an eclectic group of friends drawn from all walks of life, a modern congregation in a traditional setting, drawn together to watch a controversial union between two people who have loved each other for more than three decades.

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN (ph) WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

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 them and up hold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?

IN UNISON: We will.

MARSHALL: The duke and duchess of Cornwall left St. George's chapel with the full support of their close families and friends and with the blessing of the church behind them. But they have yet to win total acceptance from a public which has been, at times, hostile and sometimes unforgiving. Since Charles once called Camilla Parker- Bowles his non-negotiable companion. He can now face the future with her by his side and call her his wife. Penny Marshall, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

ANDERSON: Let's hear more now from those who gathered in Windsor for the wedding. We'll get their reaction to the ceremony.

COOPER: We go to Richard Quest who's on the streets. Richard?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Once again, that's quite right, Anderson, Richard Quest on the streets. Here is a lady who wasn't on the street. She was in the castle. She was at the service of prayer and dedication, Nicola McAuliffe (ph), the actress. Hello. What was it like?

NICOLA McAULIFFE, ACTRESS: It was just -- This is the order of service. It was genuinely a beautiful, moving service for two people who, everybody in the church absolutely adored.

QUEST: And the reception afterwards?

McAULIFFE: It was a riot. I was standing on the table. Couldn't see so I got on the table.

QUEST: I hope you didn't have too much to drink.

McAULIFFE: No. I don't drink very much, she said, lying through her teeth. No, it was just brilliant. And the whole of the royal family was just in there, just chatting to people.

QUEST: Did you get a chance to talk to Charles and Camilla?

McAULIFFE: I certainly did, and got big kisses from his royal highness and we nearly had a kiss with her royal highness, but her hat - you could jab your eye out going anywhere near that but she looks beautiful because she's tiny. She's got the most...

QUEST: She doesn't look it.

McAULIFFE: No, television puts 10 pounds on you apparently. Done it well. Look at you. There's more fat in a chip.

QUEST: You've been at the champers (ph). You've been at the queen's champers, haven't you?

McAULIFFE: No I have not. It's always Dom Perrier (ph). That's his royal highness' favorite.

QUEST: So a good day?

McAULIFFE: A really lovely day. I spoke to her majesty. I spoke to the duke of Edinburgh who's absolutely lovely. I don't know why you lot always have a go at him. He's gorgeous.

QUEST: All right. Many thanks, indeed. Congratulations on being invited. You're one of the lucky few.

McAULIFFE: A very lucky few and a great day.

QUEST: Thank you very much.

McAULIFFE: What are you doing darling?

QUEST: I've got -- do you want to come with me? Here's 20 quid.

McAULIFFE: Not for me, love. I haven't gotten any change.

QUEST: Anderson and Becky, there's one more task to be done. Come with me. Thank you very much. We have to buy our souvenirs. Hello. I want to buy some Charles and Camilla souvenirs. What have you got?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A bag over here.

QUEST: We've got a bag. That's a big tacky. It has got the wrong date on it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 5.99.

QUEST: It's 5.99, all right. But look at this. We're in the (INAUDIBLE) league. Now we're talking. We've got mugs with the wrong date on. We've got plates with no date on, wrong date. Oh, look at this. I'll tell you what, Anderson. You've got a choice. Do you want a mug, a thimble, a plate or -- now. That's what you call tasteful, isn't it? I'll tell you what, have you sold a lot of this stuff today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, we have.

QUEST: You have?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, we've done a very busy business today.

QUEST: All right. I'll take one of the lot. Wrap them, 20 quid's worth. We're wrapping the presents. We'll bring them all back. Wrong date, right date, few dates, no dates but that's the way the things are looking in the souvenir shops.

COOPER: Thanks very much. We look forward to getting those cups from you. We appreciate it. I want to show you, also, Richard, we got a tea towel earlier. Someone gave us this. Part of being in England, it requires a whole new vocabulary. I don't know what a tea towel is. To drink tea on?

ANDERSON: And for washing up. Do you do any washing up?

COOPER: What is a tea towel for?

ANDERSON: It's to wipe clean the tea cups, the tea service. It's sort of circa 1950s, I know. These as well and these are pretty tacky and you can see the shelves (INAUDIBLE) were quite full of those tea cups and mugs and things. I'm not sure that they sold quite as many.

COOPER: I hoping that CNN has a translation bar underneath for our American audience, champers. What is that? He was talking about champers. What is champers?

ANDERSON: Champagne. It says to Camilla and it's got a zero in it, all pretty tacky. And it's got the wrong date, of course. (INAUDIBLE) place to get married.

COOPER: Their love certainly has endured the test of time. It's been a long time coming too.

ANDERSON: It has. 35 years later and now, of course --

COOPER: They are finally hitched. ANDERSON: They are finally hitched.

COOPER: The marriage is done. It's a done deal. They're off on their honeymoon. The question now is do they have what it takes to win over the British population, some of whom still resent Camilla Parker-Bowles? We'll talk about that when we come back. Our special coverage continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN (ph) WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: And welcome back to our special coverage of a royal wedding.

ANDERSON: That's right. Once upon a time, there was a tale of two weddings.

COOPER: One captured the eyes and really the hearts of the world more than two decades ago. The other was a much different affair. It happened earlier today. Hala Gorani tells us the rest of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charles and Diana, pomp and pageantry. Charles and Camilla, far more subdued. Back then, Princess Di arrived in a carriage that would have made Cinderella jealous. This time, Camilla Parker-Bowles arrived in a car. The train on Diana's white wedding gown seemed a mile long. This time, the bride wore a more modest off-white dress, a stark contrast in the venue as well, Charles and Di got married inside the domed splendor of St. Paul's Cathedral. This time, a town hall in Windsor set the stage. Charles and Di's vows were heard around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: With this ring.

PRICE CHARLES: With this ring.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: I thee wed.

PRINCE CHARLES: I thee wed.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: With my body.

PRINCE CHARLES: With my body.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: I thee honor.

PRINCE CHARLES: I thee honor.

GORANI: This time, the words spoken at a church blessing after the civil ceremony seemed almost business like.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: God is love and they that dwell in love dwell in God and God in them.

GORANI: Some 600,000 people turned out in 1981 at St. Paul's. And it seemed all of England was part of the celebration. This time, outside the town hall, the crowd was much smaller. Back then, the wedding of Charles and Di was a fairy tale event. This time, the media spoofed the prince and his second wife, whom many still consider a mistress. And what about the queen? She was a prominently presence at the first wedding. This time around, she was a no-show at the civil ceremony, but she did attend the blessing. For Charles, two very different relationships, a stormy marriage to Diana, a long-time controversial romance with Camilla. The couple no longer prince and mistress, but husband and wife. Hala Gorani, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, love once put on hold, it is now back on the front burner.

ANDERSON: Will this truly be a wonderful life in Windsor?

COOPER: You're watching CNN's special coverage of the royal wedding. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: It has been a remarkable day here in Windsor, really a day unlike any other royal wedding we've ever seen.

ANDERSON: It's been interesting. When we got here this morning about 7:00 in the morning, maybe about 50 people and we really thought that the press here would outdo the general public. It was expected to snow and sleet. It was expected to be awful, just another part of this really sort of royal farce that we've seen leading up to this wedding, but it really wasn't like that.

COOPER: It didn't turn out that way at all. There were several thousand people lining the streets of Windsor, a lovely little town outside Windsor castle. A truly remarkable moment when you consider all this couple have been through. They met, Charles was 22, Camilla Parker-Bowles was 23. They have both been married before, as we all know. And that these two finally got together after all these years, after all the tragedies and the triumphs, it is truly to see them walking into guild hall as we see them doing right here, in order to take the vows of marriage, no one really thought it would come to this.

ANDERSON: I think this is the last chapter in a decades-long story of mutual dependence and loathing between the Windsors and the British press because the British press really didn't want this wedding to happen. They didn't like the idea. They really thought the public opinion was against it. I think the tables are now turned.

COOPER: CNN's Walter Rodgers also joins us, has been watching this wedding along with us. Walter, your thoughts of the day?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, you know, the wisest Englishman of all times said, when he wrote "Midsummer's Night Dream" the course of true love never did run smooth and never was that more true that in this romance, but there were some lovely touching moments throughout the day. I confess to being a hopeless romantic, but when you saw Camilla clutching her new husband's arm, it was really really lovely.

You'd have to be a terrible curmudgeon not to have appreciated the way she clung to her husband. This is real love and it's real love which has finally been consummated, legalized after more than a third of a century and it has endured some terrible, terrible things. We know the Diana problems. We know both of them had other wives -- or other spouses, but what's really, really important in all this is that Camilla, now the princess consort endured savaging by the British press. The British press has been cruel, savage, bestial and probably unforgivable. Charles thinks they were unforgivable. Yet, in all of this, she behaved a perfect woman in public. She kept her composure. She deserves great credit for what she's gone through.

ANDERSON: There's nothing wrong with being an old romantic. Walter Rodgers, thank you very much indeed.

COOPER: Many have said that today will be a new start, not only for this couple, but perhaps for the British royal family as well. We will certainly continue to be following it and watching. The newlyweds are now on their way to Scotland.

ANDERSON: They are, for the royal honeymoon. As they make their way to Balmoral, let's take a look back on the day that turned into the royal wedding festivities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAMS: 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. Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?

PRINCE CHARLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

UNISON: Unite our will and thy will that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, it's been a fabulous day here at Windsor for this -- on this, the royal wedding day.

COOPER: There have been concerns about snow and about rain. The sun has shown through most of the day. There were some clouds in the skies. It is just starting to rain.

ANDERSON: Concerns about security as well, of course. Not a problem.

COOPER: Except the streaker.

ANDERSON: Oh, the streaker.

COOPER: There was a streaker. We didn't mention the streaker.

ANDERSON: Very British, it's very British.

COOPER: People seemed to enjoy his bits and pieces, when they got a glimpse of him.

ANDERSON: Put him in handcuffs and had photos taken with him, that's what the police did and took him away.

COOPER: We're convinced it was really Richard Quest. Thanks for joining us on this royal wedding day. I'm Anderson Cooper.

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. Goodbye, from Windsor.

COOPER: Cheerio.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 9, 2005 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I'm Rosemary Church at the CNN center. A special one hour look at the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles is coming up for our international bureaus and would like to welcome those of you who join us in the United States. But first here's a quick check of the headlines we've been following.
Nine days of official mourning for Pope John Paul II have started with a mass at St. Peter's Basilica. The college of cardinals will begin a conclave to elect a new pope on April 18th.

Two Iraqi civilians have been killed and at least 13 wounded in a car bombing in Mosul. It's the latest in a series of deadly attacks Saturday, the second anniversary of the fall of Saddam's regime. Thousands of Iraqis are marking the date with anti-American protests in Baghdad. The demonstrators want U.S.-led troops to leave the country.

Israeli soldiers have shot and killed three Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian security sources say the three were teenagers playing football. They say the boys were chasing a ball toward a border fence when they were shot. The Israeli army says the group was in an unauthorized area and ignored warning shots to stop.

Accused serial bomber Eric Rudolph will plead guilty to several blasts in the U.S. southeast. Authorities say the move will keep Rudolph off death row and that he will receive four life sentences in prison. Rudolph is charged with bombing a women's clinic in 1998 and three attacks in Atlanta, including the centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996.

An already tragic story takes another gruesome turn. Authorities in the U.S. say a suspected child molester and killer told police he buried his 9-year-old victim alive. Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her home in late February and her body was found across the street nearly a month later. John Couey had been staying there with a relative. He has a 30-year criminal history. Those are the headlines. I'm Rosemary Church. Coming up next in the special, a royal wedding with Anderson cooper and Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wedding day at Windsor. Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker-Bowles.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A trip to the altar 35 years in the making, a controversial love that's stood the test of time, a formal invitation now to join us for a royal wedding. COOPER: It is the day some thought would never come. Prince Charles has finally married his long-time love, Camilla. I'm Anderson Cooper.

ANDERSON: And I'm Becky Anderson. The royal couple finally said I do at a private civil ceremony in Windsor. A traditional church service followed.

COOPER: From the vows to the celebrity guests and those mad hats. There, we see Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles leaving for their honeymoon. They are off after this lovely day here in Windsor. Paula Hancocks has the highlights of Charles' and Camilla's big day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The smiles say it all. After a 35-year on again, off again romance filled with scandal and heartbreak, they're finally married. Charles and his new wife, who now answers to her royal highness duchess of Cornwall, wanted a low-key affair and it was certainly that. It's not often you see the royal family travel by bus. Princes William and Harry getting almost as big a cheer as the happy couple themselves.

The religious blessing at St. George's chapel in Windsor castle was far more reminiscent of royal weddings past, an impressive guest list of about 750, this part also attended by the queen and Prince Philip. In the wedding blessing, the couple recited a line of repentance from the book of common prayer, a line many have considered an acknowledgement of their prior adultery.

There was an element of show biz about the day, a few celebrities among the attendants. Formalities over, the royal couple emerged relaxed, smiling and waving, chatting to a select few of the public.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's fantastic. It's a wonderful atmosphere. I think everyone is very happy for the couple to finally be together.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it was very quick, but I must say what I saw of her, she looked absolutely splendid.

HANCOCKS: The public part over, Charles and Camilla joined their guests for a two-hour reception before heading off to Scotland for their honeymoon. It wasn't the fairy tale wedding that Charles had with Diana. It was more like a fairy tale for grown-ups, both previously divorced, both in their 50s and both looking delighted. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Windsor, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: As we heard from Paula, even though the couple married in a civil service, they still got to walk down the aisle.

COOPER: They certainly did. That was for the church blessing which happened after the civil service at Windsor castle chapel - at St. George's Chapel, which was led by the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan (ph) Williams. Here is some of that service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Some of the sights and the sounds of the church service where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles wedding day at Windsor. Royal watchers are out in force today, of course.

ANDERSON: The man who broke the story of Charles and Camilla's engagement joins us now. He's Robert Jobson and he's following the festivities very closely. Robert, your thoughts?

ROBERT JOBSON, ROYALS COMMENTATOR: We just saw the Prince of Wales and the duchess leave the Windsor castle there. It's quite fun really. They had the balloons on the car. You have prince and duchess on the wind screen. It was almost the work of Prince Harry and William, perhaps, who tried to bring a bit of joy into this occasion. They're quite fun-loving guys. I should imagine they were behind that.

COOPER: When you saw the couple arriving at guild hall for this service, first, the princes, Harry and William came. Then it was Charles and Camilla arriving together. But we didn't see the queen arriving. Why wasn't the queen there and there's been a lot of talk about what that really means.

JOBSON: Well, the reality on that one is it's difficult for the queen. She's got a dual role as mother and as monarch. The truth is, as supreme governor of the Church of England, it was a difficult choice for her to make not to turn up for the civil ceremony. I understand actually it was also with the duke of Edinburgh not being there and also the fact that he was going to be in Germany and coming back late, was important too.

But the truth is, I don't think it was a major snag. It was set by Buckingham Palace to be a low-key event. I think that Buckingham Palace did their best to keep it as low-key as possible, even though there was a massive royal show of people. It was quick, in and out. The main focus was on St. George's chapel, the religious, dedication service, which I think really is what they wanted to show. It was almost like watching a royal wedding of old. And that way, I think that's what Buckingham Palace and Clarence House wanted to portray.

ANDERSON: There were just 30 guests of course at the actual marriage at the guild hall, the civil ceremony. There was some 800 guests, of course, at the blessing at St. George's chapel. Who do we see?

JOBSON: Well we saw a number of people, Andrew Parker-Bowles, of course, Camilla's first husband. We saw a lot of show biz personalities such as Phil Collins, (INAUDIBLE) Kenneth Brener (ph). There was -- also, there were a wide ranging guests there, including the prime minister, of course, Tony Blair of Great Britain, and all the leaders of the opposition and the liberal parties. So there's a wide spectrum of people there, mainly reflecting the organizations that the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles are party to. But also their friends from social life as well as dignitaries, ambassadors, etcetera. So it did actually have the feel of a proper royal wedding, that particular part of it, the civil ceremony was a quick 20 minutes, in and out. They just seemed to be wanting to get away from it as quickly as possible.

COOPER: For me the strangest thing was seeing Joan Rivers at the service afterwards who's made fun of royal family, of course, for years, but apparently now is part of the royal family or at least friends of the royal family. Let's talk a little bit about the princes, William and Harry. They were there for the civil ceremony. They were there in the chapel afterward. What was this day like for them?

JOBSON: Obviously it was a difficult day for both princes, William and Harry. I think they've been very supportive of the Prince of Wales, their father, because every son wants their father to be happy. There's that double-edged side to this, of course, Camilla Parker-Bowles was central to the breakup of the marriage of Charles and Diana, no matter what pro-Charles fans say. There's no doubt about that. You only have to speak to people close to the Princess of Wales to understand that that is the case.

And it's typical for them. I think that Prince William, in particular, it was clearly more of a diplomat in his shows -- the shows that he's quite close to his father and able to bridge the gap, the problems that have arisen between Camilla and the boys. Harry, a bit more of an edge to him. I think Camilla has said that to her friends, she's not quite sure what to make of him. I think that's probably the best way, keep him at arm's length perhaps.

ANDERSON: All right. Robert, thank you very much indeed. For the time being, Robert Jobson, a royal commentator. Now Joan Rivers may have been embraced by the royal family, but is the public embracing the new royal couple? COOPER: That of course is the question. Richard Quest has spent the day in the midst of the crowds. He joins us now from the streets of Windsor, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that Rolls Royce, when it left, who was responsible for writing just married on the back in shaving foam and on the windows, the letters C and C? I suspect the young princes may have some serious questions to answer. As you can see, things have quieted down quite a lot. It's me, the policemen, Queen Victoria, and Debbie and Nancy from the Carolinas. Hello, good afternoon to you ladies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. How are you?

QUEST: Well, what a day. Tell me what your thoughts are about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We loved it. It was great being here in all the festivities that were low key.

QUEST: Low key.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Low key, and driving too fast so we could not see.

QUEST: You've been here since 5:00 this morning, 5:30 this morning?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. We locked our chairs to the fence last night so we would have a great spot. We came to Windsor just for the wedding.

QUEST: You did not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did.

QUEST: Now you two have been friends for 35 years, which is just about as long as Charles and Camilla have been dating. Was it worth it, ladies?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was definitely worth it. We've had a great time here. The people of Windsor are wonderful. We've met people from all over the world and we were able to see all of the royal family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We loved it. It was great! I'm glad we came.

QUEST: Right. One thing I do want to show you, very closely, is this. I'm not being personal when I -- the prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall, but the key point is, note the date, 8th of April, 2005. It is the wrong date. And, therefore, that is going to be worth money in the future. Did you know that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, that's correct. We collect royal memorabilia so it's great to have gotten all the collectibles here this week.

QUEST: Did you feel that you were more royal than the Brits themselves here today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've gotten a lot of attention, coming from the United States.

QUEST: Ladies, many thanks, indeed, for joining us. Thanks for talking to us. That's the way things look down here. I wanted to introduce you to some of the rest of the crowd. Did you have a good day? Where have you come from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've come from Bristol. We're originally Mexican.

QUEST: Mexican and what did you think? Did you get to see them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got to see them when they left the castle indeed yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Briefly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Briefly. They came up very quick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She looked wonderful.

QUEST: She looked lovely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes she does, definitely.

QUEST: Right, well, but it was all so fast. Many thanks indeed for talking to us. That's the way you have it from here down in the crowd. One can only wonder Anderson and Becky, one does wonder. I wonder what she makes of it all, Queen Victoria. Is she amused? We are not amused.

COOPER: I imagine she's not, Richard Quest down in the crowd, Richard thanks very much. Still to come, a lot ahead in this special. Did the bride's wardrobe pass muster with the fashion critics?

ANDERSON: You're watching CNN's special coverage of the royal wedding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Those of course were two of the big stars today, Prince William and Prince Harry here to attend the wedding of their father to the man -- to the woman, Camilla Parker-Bowles, now known as her royal highness, the duchess of Cornwall. All you new royal watchers now have a whole new royal family to watch.

ANDERSON: And like many 21st Century families, it's blended, with the family tree branching out to include step parents, siblings and the rest of them. (INAUDIBLE) has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNKNOWN CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're in the public eye just as much as their father. Princes William and Harry are making a big show of support at their dad's wedding day. But isn't this just about family unity and being good loyal sons? After all, the woman marrying their father and who's now their step mum is the very same woman who many say was responsible for the breakup of their parents' marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Princes William and Harry are not boys anymore. They're young men. They've got love lives of their own. So I think they've grown up with the whole Camilla question ever since Princess Diana's death. It's always been on their mind. But I'm sure they'll take it with the maturity that they're showing in their growing years.

UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT: Some describe the wedding as a social mine field for Princes William and Harry. As one put it, they have to be very careful not to put a step out of line just for their father's sake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly Princes William and Harry don't live in the pockets of Charles and Camilla. The reality is, they don't see very much of her at all actually. The truth is, they will obviously tolerate her and be polite to her and civil to her, but I would think it would be very difficult for any sons, whoever they are, to show so much compassion to a woman who effectively wrecked their mother's marriage to their father.

UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT: Insiders say Harry still has a difficult time with Camilla. A British royal watcher says she tried to win him over, but he could not forget his mother. As for William, he has learned to be a lot more pragmatic. Whatever their differences with their new mom, the boys appear to have put them aside, at least for today. (INAUDIBLE) CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Prince Charles and the new duchess of Cornwall are on their way to Scotland for their honeymoon.

COOPER: Joining us now with more on the day's events, Jennie Bond, a former BBC royals correspondent. Jennie was such a close observer of the royals, viewers often noted that her outfit always matched the queen's wherever she went. That's not the case today. Jennie, what are you going to remember from today?

JENNIE BOND, FMR BBC ROYALS CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to remember a day of great joy and actually, amazement that in two short months, we have come to this day. Because when I heard two months ago after 14 years of covering the royals, I was phoned when I was on a train and told that these two were going to get married, I thought it was April Fool's day. I thought it was a joke. I was (INAUDIBLE). It was an idea that was untenable really just three or four months ago and now, they've gone ahead and they've done it and I think that's good for them and good for the monarchy. ANDERSON: The wedding plans have been dogged by the sort of problems you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, of course, the problems with whether this wedding was legal. There were problems with the venue and then issue about whether the queen was going to arrive.

COOPER: Who was going to pay for security.

ANDERSON: All of those things. Ultimately, on the day, do you think it was all worth it?

BOND: I think it was for them. I think they'll be heading off now toward Scotland with great relief in their hearts and they'll be sitting down later tonight with a large glass of whiskey, I should think, and cuddling up as Mr. and Mrs. Obviously I think there's been a huge amount has gone wrong, but I think it might have played into their hands in the end because I think that many of the British public really in the end felt some sympathy for them, particularly for Camilla, I mean on her wedding day (INAUDIBLE). I mean, what else could have gone wrong? But today, it went well, though she was nervous.

ANDERSON: She was?

COOPER: She didn't seem nervous. How do you think she looked in terms of what she was wearing? Also, is this a new beginning for the royals, at least for Camilla?

BOND: It's the end of one chapter and very much the beginning of a new one. I thought she looked sensational actually. I've always said that she's much better looking in the flesh. I've met her a few times and she's much better looking. She doesn't photograph very well but today, she really turned it on. I thought she looked stunning, first in that cream outfit and then the blue gown she wore for the religious ceremony. I couldn't quite see what she was wearing for going away, but I am sure she looked good too.

ANDERSON: Not being glib, Jennie, is this the end of the Diana era?

BOND: Well, Diana will live on in all of our hearts and Diana was very special. I knew her really quite well. In fact she once told me in a private conversation at Kensington Palace, she said, do you know I think we should all recognize that Camilla always has been, always will be the love of Charles' life. And she said, I think she's been rather discreet and rather loyal and perhaps deserves some form of recognition. Diana said that to me one day. Now on another day, I know perfectly well, she would describe Camilla as the rottweiler but I think Diana had resigned herself to the fact that nothing was going to break this enduring love that Charles had for Camilla. And I think the British public now will come to accept that and warm to her.

COOPER: What do you think is at the core of their relationship? I mean Charles was 22 when they met. She was 23. She was outgoing, from all the descriptions. He is somewhat more reserved. How do they blend together? What does one give to the other? BOND: They're friends more than anything. They also share a lot of the same interests. She's a country woman at heart. She scrubs up well, as we say in this country. She does. But she'll be very happy to put on her jeans and her Welly (ph) boots later, so they have a lot in common, hunting, horses, dogs. She supports him. She mothers him a little bit. She pampers him. He's a self pitying individual sometimes and so when he's feeling all morose and put upon, she'll put her arms around him, there, there, darling. And she is also lusty and raunchy and good fun.

COOPER: Goodness. Dob smacked (ph), Jennie. Dob smacked, I tell you.

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) What will the papers do if public opinion turns in favor of them Jennie? It's going to be a nightmare for the press, isn't it? Thank you very much indeed, Jennie Bonds, royal watcher.

COOPER: Great to talk to you. After the prayer service and before the reception, Charles and Camilla took some time to meet with well wishers from the public.

ANDERSON: Not just anyone, mind you.

(AUDIO GAP)

ANDERSON: Windsor castle crowd, most of them came from charities supported by the prince or his chums.

COOPER: Among them was a true royal fan, a woman. That's them meeting and greeting and pressing the flesh, as we say in the United States. I don't think they say that here, a woman who wrote a poem for the couple to mark the occasion. In return, she received a wedding invitation. Malika Kapour (ph) met with the lucky lady getting ready for this very big day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALIKA KAPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the sleepy town of Leek (ph) in northern England, one of the locals has become a right royal celebrity. She will be making a guest appearance at Saturday's Windsor wedding.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I keep thinking I'm going to wake up from a dream. I'm dreaming. I can't believe it's happening.

KAPOUR: How it happened, Andrea says, is just as unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought I would encourage them. I thought it would make them smile a little bit.

KAPOUR: So, she penned a poem for the royal couple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll fly the flag and wish them well. They deserved some luck, very much so well. KAPOUR: Little did the unofficial poet laureate realize she'd be rewarded with tickets to the wedding. Well, almost. Her family received four passes to stand outside the castle. Just in case the royals stopped to greet her, Andrea is getting prepared. That means making time for the local paper, even while she's at the hairdressers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's beautiful. I'll feel good tomorrow.

KAPOUR: The big day dawns, time to wear the hat for real. Andrea and her family leave their hotel for the castle. She walks confidently through the crowds, clutching the tickets and camera that will get her that royal glimpse. Their big day was also their big day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without a doubt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll never have a day like this ever again as long as I live. It's the most fantastic time.

KAPOUR: Andrea and her family were in this crowd outside the castle. Though they didn't get to shake hands with the newlyweds, they aren't disappointed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. Next time.

Malika Kapour, CNN, Windsor, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Still to come...

COOPER: She said she was going for crisp, clean and subtle and I'm not talking about Becky Anderson. The question is, did the new duchess of Cornwall hit her mark with what she was wearing?

ANDERSON: A wedding fashion after the break.

COOPER: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're watching a royal wedding.

COOPER: Our special coverage of the royal wedding. The bride wore ivory.

ANDERSON: Ivory. After more than half a dozen fittings, (INAUDIBLE) had at least that many.

COOPER: Are you kidding?

ANDERSON: I did. Camilla Parker Bowles turned out in a chiffon dress topped by a silk coat.

COOPER: For the church blessing, however, she changed into a pale blue, long-sleeved silk gown that swept the floor. I thought it looked a little "Matrix"-y, but it was lovely. Meanwhile, Prince Charles' formal morning suit was well, formal. So how did the pair fare overall in the style department?

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) too bad, not nearly as badly as she could have done. People thought it could be (INAUDIBLE) that would be a disaster as far as the British public were concerned.

COOPER: We're joined by Jess Wood (ph) of "In Style" magazine in our London bureau. Jess, how did Camilla Parker-Bowles do? Jess, if you can hear us, how did Camilla Parker-Bowles do?

JESS WOOD, IN STYLE MAGAZINE: Well, I think the general feeling here is that she did very well. I think the first outfit for the civil ceremony was -- she had to tread a really careful line between not looking too much like the mother of the bride, which was a risk, considering that she's a lady of 57, but not wanting to look too sort of kind of virginal or wearing anything that could sort of look too young. So, I think it was a dignified choice by London-based couturiers Robins and Ballantine (ph) and a great hat by the king of milliners Philip Tracy (ph). So I think she did very well.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Philip Tracey has designed hats I understand for Madonna and Marilyn Manson. I don't know that Marilyn Manson wore hats, but apparently he does. What about what Camilla wore to the actual ceremony afterwards?

JESS WOOD (ph), IN STYLE MAGAZINE: I think that was slightly more regal. It was a great choice. I think the color, the kind of duck egg blue was very flattering. And actually the back, very sort of important to bear in mind how she was going to look from the back. Because of course she had to kneel down in front of the congregation and there was a kind of length to it, to the coat that she wore over the dress and beautiful gold embroidery that I think kind of worked quite well. I think it was flattering for her fair skin and went well with her coloring. So, I think, you know, it was a dignified choice.

ANDERSON: Whether she liked it or not, she's had to change her style, hasn't she? After all, she's from the sort of horsy set in England and hadn't really cared much about her fashion and style before so I mean the British public expects her to be smart. She's no Diana is she, at the end of the day, but she's expected to be smart.

WOOD: She certainly isn't. I think over the past few years, we've seen a real concerted effort to smarten her up. I think she's kind of made a real effort. Apparently, I've actually heard that she's lost by some reports almost a stone in weight prior to the wedding. And she does look trim. Her hair has been lightened, apparently. I've also heard talk of having her teeth whitened and caps. Her makeup is very soft and flattering, certainly not the same Camilla that we've seen before. I think in the past couple of years, I think she's really, there has been a real effort to kind of just, you know, give her a slightly more sleek image. She has been wearing designer clothes. She's a fan of Valentino, designers such as Armani have lent her clothes and I think, you know, she has certainly smartened up.

COOPER: Jess Wood, thank you very much from "In Style" magazine. Valentino was actually even at the church service or we saw him in the guest crowd.

ANDERSON: (INAUDIBLE) But then you would expect him to.

COOPER: I would hope so. Much more to come in this hour. It's our special coverage of the royal wedding continues.

ANDERSON: Prince Charles had a fairy tale wedding the first time around. Now it's a different story. We'll wrap up the day's events for you.

COOPER: Plus the royals got a warm reception from the crowd today. Will they get a cold shoulder later on? We're going to find out as our special coverage continues. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Hello. Welcome back to our CNN special royal wedding. I'm Becky Anderson.

COOPER: And I'm Anderson Cooper. We consider ourselves the royal family of news today in Windsor. After more than three decades that have been filled with plenty of scandal and heartbreak, Prince Charles has finally, finally married the love of his life, Camilla Parker- Bowles. Penny Marshall (ph) takes a look back on the day that finally was.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PENNY MARSHALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the prince and his bride were being driven the short distance from Windsor castle to the guild hall this morning, history prepared to record a royal marriage without precedence. This, a royal love affair finally without hindrance. Their long and difficult journey to the altar was about to end.

Prince William, a witness, and his brother, Harry, led the close family members into Windsor's guild hall for a short, private civil ceremony from which 20 minutes later, the married couple emerged, the prince leading Camilla Parker-Bowles out from the shadows on his arm, his former lover and mistress, now his wife and the new duchess of Cornwall.

It was in the historic and royal surroundings of St. George's chapel, Windsor Castle though, that two hours later, man and wife came to receive a formal church blessing. The queen, head of the church, present this time to see her son and heir kneel beside his wife as they joined the congregation and asked God's forgiveness for their sins.

IN UNISON: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word and deed. We earnestly repent and are utterly sorry for these our misdoings. Remembrance of them is grievous unto us. The burden of them is intolerable. Forgive us all that has passed.

MARSHALL: Eight hundred guests had come to watch the Prince of Wales and his wife make their vows, an eclectic group of friends drawn from all walks of life, a modern congregation in a traditional setting, drawn together to watch a controversial union between two people who have loved each other for more than three decades.

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN (ph) WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

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 them and up hold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?

IN UNISON: We will.

MARSHALL: The duke and duchess of Cornwall left St. George's chapel with the full support of their close families and friends and with the blessing of the church behind them. But they have yet to win total acceptance from a public which has been, at times, hostile and sometimes unforgiving. Since Charles once called Camilla Parker- Bowles his non-negotiable companion. He can now face the future with her by his side and call her his wife. Penny Marshall, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

WILLIAMS: 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.

IN UNISON: Heavenly father, we offer you 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.

ANDERSON: Let's hear more now from those who gathered in Windsor for the wedding. We'll get their reaction to the ceremony.

COOPER: We go to Richard Quest who's on the streets. Richard?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Once again, that's quite right, Anderson, Richard Quest on the streets. Here is a lady who wasn't on the street. She was in the castle. She was at the service of prayer and dedication, Nicola McAuliffe (ph), the actress. Hello. What was it like?

NICOLA McAULIFFE, ACTRESS: It was just -- This is the order of service. It was genuinely a beautiful, moving service for two people who, everybody in the church absolutely adored.

QUEST: And the reception afterwards?

McAULIFFE: It was a riot. I was standing on the table. Couldn't see so I got on the table.

QUEST: I hope you didn't have too much to drink.

McAULIFFE: No. I don't drink very much, she said, lying through her teeth. No, it was just brilliant. And the whole of the royal family was just in there, just chatting to people.

QUEST: Did you get a chance to talk to Charles and Camilla?

McAULIFFE: I certainly did, and got big kisses from his royal highness and we nearly had a kiss with her royal highness, but her hat - you could jab your eye out going anywhere near that but she looks beautiful because she's tiny. She's got the most...

QUEST: She doesn't look it.

McAULIFFE: No, television puts 10 pounds on you apparently. Done it well. Look at you. There's more fat in a chip.

QUEST: You've been at the champers (ph). You've been at the queen's champers, haven't you?

McAULIFFE: No I have not. It's always Dom Perrier (ph). That's his royal highness' favorite.

QUEST: So a good day?

McAULIFFE: A really lovely day. I spoke to her majesty. I spoke to the duke of Edinburgh who's absolutely lovely. I don't know why you lot always have a go at him. He's gorgeous.

QUEST: All right. Many thanks, indeed. Congratulations on being invited. You're one of the lucky few.

McAULIFFE: A very lucky few and a great day.

QUEST: Thank you very much.

McAULIFFE: What are you doing darling?

QUEST: I've got -- do you want to come with me? Here's 20 quid.

McAULIFFE: Not for me, love. I haven't gotten any change.

QUEST: Anderson and Becky, there's one more task to be done. Come with me. Thank you very much. We have to buy our souvenirs. Hello. I want to buy some Charles and Camilla souvenirs. What have you got?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A bag over here.

QUEST: We've got a bag. That's a big tacky. It has got the wrong date on it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 5.99.

QUEST: It's 5.99, all right. But look at this. We're in the (INAUDIBLE) league. Now we're talking. We've got mugs with the wrong date on. We've got plates with no date on, wrong date. Oh, look at this. I'll tell you what, Anderson. You've got a choice. Do you want a mug, a thimble, a plate or -- now. That's what you call tasteful, isn't it? I'll tell you what, have you sold a lot of this stuff today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, we have.

QUEST: You have?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, we've done a very busy business today.

QUEST: All right. I'll take one of the lot. Wrap them, 20 quid's worth. We're wrapping the presents. We'll bring them all back. Wrong date, right date, few dates, no dates but that's the way the things are looking in the souvenir shops.

COOPER: Thanks very much. We look forward to getting those cups from you. We appreciate it. I want to show you, also, Richard, we got a tea towel earlier. Someone gave us this. Part of being in England, it requires a whole new vocabulary. I don't know what a tea towel is. To drink tea on?

ANDERSON: And for washing up. Do you do any washing up?

COOPER: What is a tea towel for?

ANDERSON: It's to wipe clean the tea cups, the tea service. It's sort of circa 1950s, I know. These as well and these are pretty tacky and you can see the shelves (INAUDIBLE) were quite full of those tea cups and mugs and things. I'm not sure that they sold quite as many.

COOPER: I hoping that CNN has a translation bar underneath for our American audience, champers. What is that? He was talking about champers. What is champers?

ANDERSON: Champagne. It says to Camilla and it's got a zero in it, all pretty tacky. And it's got the wrong date, of course. (INAUDIBLE) place to get married.

COOPER: Their love certainly has endured the test of time. It's been a long time coming too.

ANDERSON: It has. 35 years later and now, of course --

COOPER: They are finally hitched. ANDERSON: They are finally hitched.

COOPER: The marriage is done. It's a done deal. They're off on their honeymoon. The question now is do they have what it takes to win over the British population, some of whom still resent Camilla Parker-Bowles? We'll talk about that when we come back. Our special coverage continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP ROWAN (ph) WILLIAMS: Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

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

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: And welcome back to our special coverage of a royal wedding.

ANDERSON: That's right. Once upon a time, there was a tale of two weddings.

COOPER: One captured the eyes and really the hearts of the world more than two decades ago. The other was a much different affair. It happened earlier today. Hala Gorani tells us the rest of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charles and Diana, pomp and pageantry. Charles and Camilla, far more subdued. Back then, Princess Di arrived in a carriage that would have made Cinderella jealous. This time, Camilla Parker-Bowles arrived in a car. The train on Diana's white wedding gown seemed a mile long. This time, the bride wore a more modest off-white dress, a stark contrast in the venue as well, Charles and Di got married inside the domed splendor of St. Paul's Cathedral. This time, a town hall in Windsor set the stage. Charles and Di's vows were heard around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: With this ring.

PRICE CHARLES: With this ring.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: I thee wed.

PRINCE CHARLES: I thee wed.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: With my body.

PRINCE CHARLES: With my body.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: I thee honor.

PRINCE CHARLES: I thee honor.

GORANI: This time, the words spoken at a church blessing after the civil ceremony seemed almost business like.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: God is love and they that dwell in love dwell in God and God in them.

GORANI: Some 600,000 people turned out in 1981 at St. Paul's. And it seemed all of England was part of the celebration. This time, outside the town hall, the crowd was much smaller. Back then, the wedding of Charles and Di was a fairy tale event. This time, the media spoofed the prince and his second wife, whom many still consider a mistress. And what about the queen? She was a prominently presence at the first wedding. This time around, she was a no-show at the civil ceremony, but she did attend the blessing. For Charles, two very different relationships, a stormy marriage to Diana, a long-time controversial romance with Camilla. The couple no longer prince and mistress, but husband and wife. Hala Gorani, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, love once put on hold, it is now back on the front burner.

ANDERSON: Will this truly be a wonderful life in Windsor?

COOPER: You're watching CNN's special coverage of the royal wedding. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: It has been a remarkable day here in Windsor, really a day unlike any other royal wedding we've ever seen.

ANDERSON: It's been interesting. When we got here this morning about 7:00 in the morning, maybe about 50 people and we really thought that the press here would outdo the general public. It was expected to snow and sleet. It was expected to be awful, just another part of this really sort of royal farce that we've seen leading up to this wedding, but it really wasn't like that.

COOPER: It didn't turn out that way at all. There were several thousand people lining the streets of Windsor, a lovely little town outside Windsor castle. A truly remarkable moment when you consider all this couple have been through. They met, Charles was 22, Camilla Parker-Bowles was 23. They have both been married before, as we all know. And that these two finally got together after all these years, after all the tragedies and the triumphs, it is truly to see them walking into guild hall as we see them doing right here, in order to take the vows of marriage, no one really thought it would come to this.

ANDERSON: I think this is the last chapter in a decades-long story of mutual dependence and loathing between the Windsors and the British press because the British press really didn't want this wedding to happen. They didn't like the idea. They really thought the public opinion was against it. I think the tables are now turned.

COOPER: CNN's Walter Rodgers also joins us, has been watching this wedding along with us. Walter, your thoughts of the day?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, you know, the wisest Englishman of all times said, when he wrote "Midsummer's Night Dream" the course of true love never did run smooth and never was that more true that in this romance, but there were some lovely touching moments throughout the day. I confess to being a hopeless romantic, but when you saw Camilla clutching her new husband's arm, it was really really lovely.

You'd have to be a terrible curmudgeon not to have appreciated the way she clung to her husband. This is real love and it's real love which has finally been consummated, legalized after more than a third of a century and it has endured some terrible, terrible things. We know the Diana problems. We know both of them had other wives -- or other spouses, but what's really, really important in all this is that Camilla, now the princess consort endured savaging by the British press. The British press has been cruel, savage, bestial and probably unforgivable. Charles thinks they were unforgivable. Yet, in all of this, she behaved a perfect woman in public. She kept her composure. She deserves great credit for what she's gone through.

ANDERSON: There's nothing wrong with being an old romantic. Walter Rodgers, thank you very much indeed.

COOPER: Many have said that today will be a new start, not only for this couple, but perhaps for the British royal family as well. We will certainly continue to be following it and watching. The newlyweds are now on their way to Scotland.

ANDERSON: They are, for the royal honeymoon. As they make their way to Balmoral, let's take a look back on the day that turned into the royal wedding festivities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAMS: 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. Charles, have you resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?

PRINCE CHARLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

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

CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES: That is my resolve with the help of God.

UNISON: Unite our will and thy will that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, it's been a fabulous day here at Windsor for this -- on this, the royal wedding day.

COOPER: There have been concerns about snow and about rain. The sun has shown through most of the day. There were some clouds in the skies. It is just starting to rain.

ANDERSON: Concerns about security as well, of course. Not a problem.

COOPER: Except the streaker.

ANDERSON: Oh, the streaker.

COOPER: There was a streaker. We didn't mention the streaker.

ANDERSON: Very British, it's very British.

COOPER: People seemed to enjoy his bits and pieces, when they got a glimpse of him.

ANDERSON: Put him in handcuffs and had photos taken with him, that's what the police did and took him away.

COOPER: We're convinced it was really Richard Quest. Thanks for joining us on this royal wedding day. I'm Anderson Cooper.

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. Goodbye, from Windsor.

COOPER: Cheerio.

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