King Charles splashes out millions to protect Camilla's peace on 20th anniversary

King Charles pulled off a grand romantic gesture ahead of his 20th wedding anniversary with Queen Camilla — one that cost £3 million and showed just how much he values her peace and privacy.

The royal couple, who tied the knot on April 9, 2005, spent their milestone anniversary in Rome this week on a state visit. During the trip, Camilla gave a touching nod to their wedding day by rewearing the same dress she wore two decades ago.

But it’s the King’s behind-the-scenes gift that’s making headlines.

According to reports, King Charles quietly bought a £3 million property — the Old Mill — located right next to Camilla’s cherished country home, Ray Mill House in Wiltshire. The reason? To prevent it from being turned into a bustling wedding venue that could disrupt Camilla’s sanctuary.

Ray Mill House has long been Camilla’s private haven, purchased in 1995 after her divorce. The Queen often retreats there for downtime with her children and grandchildren — away from the royal spotlight. 

The King’s move to protect her space was described as a “personal and loving gesture,” made using his private funds.

What is King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship timeline?

The couple first met in the early 1970s and began dating, but royal expectations and timing led Camilla to marry Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973, while Charles wed Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

Despite their separate marriages, the pair maintained a close bond, with their affair becoming public in the early 1990s and fuelling widespread controversy.

Following their respective divorces—and Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997—they made their first public appearance together in 1999 and married in a civil ceremony in 2005, after years of careful image management.

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