King Charles’ little-known role in William and Kate’s wedding revealed as close ties with Princess of Wales strengthen through their respective battles with cancer

King Charles has always had a close relationship with his son and daughter-in-law, with the monarch said to have grown even closer to the Princess of Wales due to their shared cancer diagnosis.

But many royal watchers are unaware of the role Charles played in the royal wedding more than a decade ago.

As the groom’s father, then-Prince Charles played an instrumental role in the 2011 royal wedding, even choosing the wedding music.

Charles leaned on his knowledge of classical music when making his choices, he revealed to Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM in 2020.

He said: ‘I love trying to organize some interesting, I hope, pieces of music for particular occasions, especially weddings, if people want it.

‘I know my eldest son was quite understanding and was very happy that I suggested a few for their wedding.’

For William and Kate’s wedding at Westminster Abbey, guests arrived to organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach and orchestral pieces by Edward Elgar, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and more.

The pair chose ‘Farewell to Stromness’, ‘Touch Her Soft Lips and Part’ and ‘Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11’ as a nod to Charles and Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, when the songs were played at their wedding in 2005.

Charles added that he hoped his recommendations ‘brought some people joy’ and said he, for one, enjoyed it.

The king got his passion for classical music from the Queen Mother, his grandmother.

He fondly recalled: ‘My grandmother used to play quite a bit of music so I would hear something there.

“But I suppose the first time I really became aware of it was being taken by my grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to Covent Garden at the age of seven, I think.

He recalls a particular event that made him fall in love with classical music.

“It must have been in 1956 to see the Bolshoi Ballet perform.

‘It was their first visit to the UK and I will never forget the incredible occasion. I was completely inspired by it.’

The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was at the time one of 2011’s biggest events and was declared a public holiday, with around 26 million people lining up to watch.

The viewing figures were beaten only by the groom’s mother and father, Princess Diana and Charles, who drew 28.4 million viewers 30 years earlier.

After the ceremony in 2011, the newlyweds traveled in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and were greeted along the streets by members of the public.

The newlyweds also appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the late Queen and other members of the royal family.

From then on, Prince William’s full title became Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, while Kate became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

They are now the Prince and Princess of Wales and their relationship with the Prince’s father is stronger than ever following both his and Kate’s shock cancer diagnoses since the turn of the year.

The Princess of Wales was inspired to reveal hers after the heated reaction to the King doing the same six weeks earlier, royal insiders have claimed.

It is said to have ‘cemented’ their relationship, 13 years after Kate’s formal introduction to the Royal Family.

Both senior royals were at the London Clinic for operations at the same time in January before they both received a diagnosis in February – although Kate delayed her announcement a further month to tell her and William’s children at the right time.

Kate and Charles’ joint scares undermine the message of her announcement that cancer sufferers ‘are not alone’.

Royal commentator Michael Cole spoke about why Kate decided to go public, to MailOnline today: ‘The decision was hers alone and she was encouraged to make it by seeing the public reaction to the news of the King’s cancer, released by Buckingham Palace.

‘The outpouring of concern worldwide, with messages of support flowing in a never-ending stream of kindness and encouragement, surprised the King, as did Queen Victoria, who wrote in her diary how surprised she was at people shouting that they loved her , as she drove through. the crowds at her golden jubilee in 1887.’

Sir. Cole, a former royal television correspondent for the BBC, added: “Kate has grown close to the King, who has repeatedly referred to her as ‘my beloved daughter-in-law’. As such, she was well aware of the public reaction to the revelation of the King’s cancer and how it had affected him.

‘The king was one of the very few people who got a glimpse of the young woman, sitting alone on a bench in her Breton sweater and blue jeans in front of daffodils in full bloom, a traditional symbol of spring and new life.’

Charles and Camilla have publicly offered their love and support to Kate, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as the family tries to come to terms with the news.

The 75-year-old monarch is extremely fond of the princess, who has been a part of her eldest son, the Prince of Wales’s life for more than 20 years.

Charles and Kate also share a love of art, gardening and the outdoors – but now their bond unfortunately extends to a shared cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

The King returned to work as he appeared in a series of photographs released by Buckingham Palace in March.