Prince Charles' life after marrying Camilla Parker-Bowles was never the same for a number of negative reasons — his relationships with his sons and mother changed dramatically, his public image suffered, and the wedding itself was fraught with drama — but if one thing in his life did change for the better, it was the fact that he got to marry Camilla at all.
When Charles was a young bachelor on the hunt for his bride, Camilla was never seen as a suitable option. As noted by Biography, Camilla's lack of a title, as well as her previously well-documented romantic relationships, made her the royal family's last choice when Charles was getting married the first time around. Despite their very strong feelings for one another, both got married to other people and emotionally suffered as a result.
But on that day in 2005 that was a long time coming, Charles and Camilla said, "I do," and Charles later gushed to CNN about his "brilliant" wife. "It's always marvelous to have somebody who, you know, you feel understands and wants to encourage," he said. "Although she certainly pokes fun if I get too serious about things. And all that helps."
