It's probably cold and wet in Scotland on this day but it's still the best place to be for Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the wedding few Brits — including them — ever thought would happen.
But it did happen, 10 years ago in Windsor in two ceremonies both moving and unprecedented. And right after the reception for 800 at Windsor Castle, the couple left for a honeymoon in Scotland.
That's where they were Thursday, at Charles' beloved country retreat, Birkhall, on the royal Balmoral estate.
In honor of the occasion, Clarence House released a photo of the couple bundled up against the elements on the grounds at Birkhall.
Meanwhile, congratulations poured in.
The British media are filled this week with stories about the preparations for the birth of Charles' second grandchild, due later this month to Prince William and Duchess Kate of Cambridge.
But there are plenty of other stories detailing the difference a decade of wedded bliss has made in the public images of the Prince of Wales and the former Camilla Parker Bowles.
She was once the most despised woman in Britain, the alleged home-wrecker who broke up the marriage of Charles and Princess Diana. She was so resented that Charles and the palace decided she wouldn't take the title Princess of Wales when they married, but a lesser one of Duchess of Cornwall.
Before their wedding, which following a lead-up characterized by farce and confusion, Charles let it be known she would not take the title of queen when he assumes the throne, but the lesser title of princess consort. Polls at the time showed few Brits wanted her to be called Queen Camilla when the time came.
But this week, the newspapers are reporting on a new YouGov poll that shows support for Camilla being called queen has grown to half those surveyed — a big jump.
What happened? Camilla was publicly accepted and embraced by the royal family, especially Charles' and Diana's sons, William and Harry, and by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Camilla, 67, so obviously made Charles, 66, happy. She embraced her role as a charity patron and accompanied him on grueling international visits on behalf of the queen. Only last month, the couple returned from a successful visit, their third, to the USA.
She demonstrated a popular touch in public, coming off as warm, unpretentious and good-humored. Most of all she proved she wasn't "the Rottweiler" Diana, in the depths of her marital miseries, once described her as.
"She's never had any ambition for herself," said royal biographer Penny Junor. "She didn't want to be a princess or a duchess. She just happened to love a man who was the Prince of Wales, and look at the fuss that caused."
Her friend, novelist Jilly Cooper, says Camilla is "great fun and very kind," according to the Associated Press.
"I think by being brave and behaving beautifully she's done brilliantly," Cooper said. "The public have come to love her."
