Camilla and Prince Charles tied the knot in April 2005, six years after they made their relationship public. While their wedding day has been much-anticipated by the couple, it proved challenging for the bride.

       In the run-up to her wedding, Camilla was reportedly suffering from a bout of sinusitis so serious it left her friends worrying whether she should be able to walk down the aisle.

       Moreover, royal biographer Penny Junor claims Camilla was also "terrified".

       The expert wrote in Vanity Fair in 2018: "It was nerves more than sinusitis that kept her under the covers. She was terrified".

       A friend of the couple, Lucia Santa Cruz, recalled with Ms Junor her concern as the wedding was fast approaching, saying: "She was really ill, stressed.

       "She literally couldn't get out of bed."

       Ms Santa Cruz is credited to have introduced Charles and Camilla in the early 1970s, after she had moved into a London flat located above the one of then Camilla Shand.

       In accordance with tradition, Camilla had spent the night before the wedding apart from Prince Charles.

       She stayed at Clarence House with her daughter Laura and sister Sonia Annabel Elliot. Camilla was also in the company of her dresser Jacque Meakin and housemaid Joy, ready to help her prepare for the big day.

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       Among them, Ms Elliot was reportedly pivotal in pushing her sister out of bed.

       Ms Elliot teased Camilla saying: "Ok, that’s all right. I’m going to do it for you.

       "I’m going to get you into your clothes."

       Camilla eventually mustered strength and courage to leave Clarence House and get married to Prince Charles during a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall.

       This was followed by a marriage blessing taking place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where other high-profile royal nuptials have taken place since.

       Among the royal guests at the second wedding of the future king, there were his sons Prince William and Prince Harry as well as the Queen, late Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

       Camilla had been introduced to the Royal Family prior to her nuptials in Windsor.

       In 2000, at the 60th birthday party for exiled King Constantine of Greece hosted by Prince Charles, the now Duchess of Cornwall was officially introduced to the Queen.

       Five years later, Her Majesty delivered a speech during the wedding reception which left no doubt she had welcomed her son's wife in the Firm.

       The horse racing enthusiast started saying she had two announcements to make - one focused on a victory at the Grand National, taking place on the same day of the wedding.

       The second concerned Charles and Camilla's union.

       The Queen said she was delighted to be welcoming her son and his bride to the "winners" enclosure.

       She said: "They have overcome Becher's Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles.

       "They have come through and I'm very proud and wish them well.

       "My son is home and dry with the woman he loves."

       Upon tying the knot with Charles, Camilla became the Duchess of Cornwall and a working member of the Firm - who has since been recognised for her commitment to a range of causes including protecting women from domestic abuse and increase nationwide literacy.