I'm Princess of Wales

ROYAL WEDDING SPECIAL: Bride's tell-tale gem shows world she's real royal

By Clive Goodman

ROYAL bride Camilla Parker Bowles branded herself the new Princess of Wales yesterday in an incredible public show of strength.

She and Prince Charles deliberately chose a brooch showing his fleur de lys crest for her to wear at yesterday's marriage service.

The insignia clearly shows they both want people to see her as the Princess of Wales.

Charles gave Camilla the distinctive crest when they first went public with their romance six years ago.

A senior royal aide yesterday confirmed the couple had taken a joint decision for Camilla to wear it so prominently.

He said: "They both made the choice and they're well aware of the significance and the signal it is sending out to the world."

Camilla had said that she would prefer to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall, one of Prince Charles's other titles.

Powerful

And royal aides had promised that Camilla would never use Princess Diana's old title.

But, as she walked into Windsor Guildhall for yesterday's civil wedding service, her Princess of Wales brooch was clearly visible on the lapel of her long oyster-coloured silk jacket.

One senior aide said: "She could have chosen a token from the Duke of Cornwall's crest, but she didn't.

"It's telling the world who she is and what she has become."

Camilla struck an elegant yet powerful and confident figure as she endured a day of gruelling royal protocol.

At one point she even corrected Charles when he made a mistake during the blessing service at St George's chapel.

For their wedding the couple were adamant that they did not want a service where Camilla promised to "obey" Charles.

The simple service was over in little more than 20 minutes after Camilla and Charles chose one with no readings, poetry or music.

Their plain gold wedding bands were handed to them by Camilla's son Tom and Charles's elder son Prince William. Charles wore his new wedding ring underneath the signet ring on his left hand.

Until recently his first wedding ring from Princess Diana occupied the same place.

Camilla's wedding ring could be seen alongside her massive art deco diamond engagement ring, a treasure from the Queen Mother's jewellery collection.

Her pearl and gold earrings are also understood to be from the Queen Mother's jewellery box.

Camilla looked sensational in her oyster silk basketweave jacket and long silk skirt during the civil ceremony. For the blessing she changed into a porcelain blue wedding gown with an embroidered floor-length overgown and small train.

Even the designer behind Princess Diana's sparkling wedding dress called Camilla's outfits "perfect".

Elizabeth Emanuel gushed: "I thought she looked lovely, very elegant. It was just very perfect for the occasion.

"She looked just right. The designers did a very, very good job. She looked great."

Camilla's confidence was clear when, outside the Guildhall, she took charge despite being surrounded by the royal family.

"Come forward," she told William as Charles's son held back while his father was posing for photographs. The couple had made a mutual decision not to kiss each other in public after either the wedding or the blessing services.

A family friend explained: "They didn't want anyone to compare his first wedding with this one. It was something they both decided."

Camilla and Charles were clearly delighted with the cheers from the crowds of nearly 20,000 well-wishers.

After the blessing a joyful-looking Camilla rushed towards familiar faces in the crowd and grinned: "We've done it at last!"

Pals Ruth Entwhistle, 53, and Alan Weston, 52, responded with: "Congratulations!"

The couple work closely with Camilla through a charity near her Wiltshire home.

Ruth said: "Camilla looked very happy but also very nervous at the whole event.

"It must have been an exciting but very stressful day for her.

"But she's got nothing to worry about. It went off without a hitch and I thought she looked fabulous in her outfits on the day."

Camilla may have assumed the mantle of Princess of Wales, but in the principality itself there was a distinct lack of wedding fever.

There were NO civic events in Wales and only a handful of official messages of goodwill.

Quiet

Caernarfon, which boasts the famous castle in which Charles was invested as Prince of Wales in 1969, has not even sent the royal couple a card of congratulations.

Caernarfon Royal Town Council official Vernon Pierce said: "There has been no public demand for a celebration so the council did not arrange anything.

"It's been very quiet. People seem to want to keep things low-key."

In Aberystwyth, where Charles studied Welsh at the town's university, the council had no plans to celebrate the marriage.

A town council spokesman said: "We've not put anything on and we haven't sent a card because there has been no demand."

In the Welsh capital of Cardiff, not one official reception was organised to celebrate the occasion.

A spokesman for Cardiff council said: "We aren't sending any gifts or cards, but we do offer our congratulations to the royal couple and wish them all the very best for the future."

At least Swansea, Wales' second city, sent a card.

A council spokesman said it read simply: "Best wishes from the people of Swansea."

The city did not send a wedding gift. but the spokesman confirmed the city did send a present when Charles married Diana in 1981.

We read their lips

OUR lip-reading expert followed the day's events. Here's what she found out..

Wills: "Which way are we going? Ah, this way"

Wills to Harry: "A bit nippy today"

Charles and Camilla in car on Park Street turning into crowds;

Camilla to Charles, looking at the crowds: "Quite a few here"

Camilla to Charles on arrival: "Here we are"

Sir Michael Wheaton to Charles as he leaves car: "Good luck, sir. Enjoy"

Leaving register office:

Wills to Harry and Tom Parker Bowles: "Very happy with that"

Charles to Camilla: "This way"

Camilla turning to Harry and Wills: "Come on"

Wills in response: "No. Go on, you go"