They?ve done it! Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles finally got married last Saturday at a civil registry ceremony followed by a church blessing in Windsor that were both solemn and sober. After fighting so long to have his wedding to his beloved accepted by the Queen and the monarchy, the ceremony could not have been otherwise. There was no public expression of their love ? no public kiss or embrace, local reporters say. ?The memory of the drama (Lady Diana, Charles? former wife?s fatal accident) haunted the big Saturday marriage, in which the prince exchanged vows with Camilla Parker-Bowles, his longtime and publicly disliked mistress,? reports CNN. Lady Di?s celebrity had always been in contrast with the public dislike for Camilla Parker-Bowles. The latter is definitely not in every British citizen?s heart and, for all these reasons, the wedding ceremony was very low-key.

Charles? mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did not attend the civil ceremony in Windsor Guildhall, but went to the church blessing with her husband Prince Philip. After the ceremony, the queen gave a two-hour reception for the newly-weds who then left for their honeymoon in Scotland.

Despite all the problems they have faced since they met in 1970 (a year later, Charles joined the Royal Navy and drifted apart from his girlfriend), the couple has finally succeeded in straightening out their love relationship in their late fifties. They emerged from the ceremony smiling and waving at the many well-wishers on the streets.

Royal watcher Robert Jobson said Prince Charles seemed relaxed after the service. ?He looked like a huge weight had lifted from his shoulders,? he told CNN. ?Camilla, who looked petrified before the wedding, also seemed relieved it was all over. They walked among friends in the crowd, so there was no chance of any hostile encounters.?

Camilla should technically be the Princess of Wales but she wishes to avoid using this title, in deference to memories of Diana. She will thus be known as the Duchess of Cornwall.