The Palace Papers

Except it wasn’t. How could it be when the royal groom was the male version of Calamity Jane? First, in perhaps what American shrinks would see as a gesture of acting out that revealed the true turmoil of his feelings, there was a tabloid furore in January 2005 over leaked pictures of Prince Harry wearing a Nazi uniform from General Rommel’s Second World War Afrika Korps at a costume party. An incensed Charles, who was a nervous wreck before the ‘Big Announcement’, demanded Harry make proper apologies to Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Prince Charles also blasted William, who’d reportedly dressed in a skin- tight black leotard with leopard- skin paws and a tail, for allowing his younger brother to make such a witless choice. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee launched an inquiry into the standards and responsibilities of Clarence House advisers. The always tone-deaf Duchess of York extended the headlines a further cycle by publicly offering Harry her full support.

Next, royal reporter Robert Jobson of the Evening Standard caught wind of the wedding scoop and bounced Clarence House into announcing the plans early, on 10 February. At first, it seemed all right. Charles and Camilla were due that evening to go to a charity function at Windsor Castle that offered a friendly flashbulb moment outside. Camilla looked radiant in her pink Jean Muir dress. She showed off her ring and told the press she was ‘just coming down to earth!’ The Queen illuminated the Round Tower of the castle as a festive gesture.

The problem: the usually punctilious team led by Michael Peat had made an unfortunate mistake.