Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles might have wondered if they would ever actually wed. The latest change: The Pope's April 8 funeral forced the couple to move their wedding to April 9—the third anniversary of the Queen Mother's funeral. But after waiting more than 30 years, nothing—not losing their first choice of venue, Windsor Castle; nor the Queen announcing she'll miss the civil ceremony; not even a change of date—is going to stand in their way. So while the Royal Mint scrambled to redate its commemorative medals, Charles and Camilla prepared to say "I do." So did Grace Beesley, 33, a marketing manager whose prescheduled wedding at the same hall on Saturday will go ahead an hour and a half after the royal vows. Says Beesley: "I'm going to have to practice my royal wave."

WHERE THEY'LL WED
With stained glass windows and historic portraits, Windsor's 17th-century Guildhall, where the civil ceremony will take place, isn't your average town hall. Still, seating just 30, it's hardly St. Paul's Cathedral either. A blessing will follow at the more lavish St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle (which was not licensed for the civil ceremony because that would have opened it up to other couples) before 750 guests, who'll then adjourn to the grand State Apartments for the reception. The prince and newly titled Duchess of Cornwall plan to depart at 6 p.m. They'll honeymoon at Birkhall in Scotland.

DIANA'S DRESSMAKER TALKS:
What Camilla Should Wear
Camilla's wedding outfit, designed by London duo Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, is a closely guarded secret. But other royal wedding couturiers have their ideas. Lindka Cierach, who made Sarah Ferguson's bridal gown, suggests "a nice fitted coat in café au lait or dove gray," while Diana's wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who produced these images, says, "I would put her in a tailored jacket over a short dress." She thinks Camilla will choose a pastel color. Says Emanuel: "She will keep it simple and elegant."

BACHELOR'S WEEK IN KLOSTERS

GRUMPY GROOM
During a "stag week" ski trip with about 30 friends to Klosters, Switzerland, the princes had stopped for a photo call on March 31 when Charles stuck out the royal lower lip and moaned about the media—right into their microphones. "I can't bear that man!" he said of one reporter. William, however, oozed charm. Set to be a witness at Dad's wedding, he joked, "As long as I don't lose the rings, I'm all right!"

A RUN ON KITSCHY KEEPSAKES
A week ago they were just souvenirs. Now things like tea towels, thimbles and aprons printed with the original April 8 wedding date are considered collector's items. eBay is doing a hot trade in everything from mislabeled mousepads (a $7.50 one sold for $84) to mugs (going for up to $225). The only official souvenir, a $38 bone china commemorative tankard with details in 22-karat gold, is also being snapped up in stores. The Royal Collection is creating a new version with the correct date, but it won't be available until after the wedding. Inderjit Dhillon, whose souvenir shop sits in the shadow of Windsor Castle, says he has sold out of many royal wedding tchotchkes and taken phone orders from the U.S., Japan and the Middle East since the date change was announced. Even locals are crowding into a store usually visited only by tourists. "Those coming in today are saying, 'It will be collectible,' " says Dhillon. " 'It will be worth money.' "

LET THEM EAT FRUITCAKE
On a visit to the town of Llansteffan in west Wales last summer, Prince Charles sampled a slice of boiled fruitcake cooked by local grandmother Etta Richardson, 74, who sells them for $7.50 from a street-market stall in a neighboring town. The prince was so taken with the cake, he ordered 20 for his wedding. "To be honest, I thought it was a joke," Richardson said. "After Prince Charles said he thought my cake were the nicest he'd ever eaten, people started to curtsy and bow to me in the street."

Anne-Marie O'Neill. Simon Perry in Klosters, Courtney Rubin in Windsor and Sara Hammel and Pete Norman in London

More From This Article

Ski Bunny Spy Crashes Princes' Party
William swigs champagne from the bottle. Harry threatens to moon passersby on the street. What would Granny think? The lads are probably finding out now that their holiday partying—fueled by vodka (with Red Bull for Harry; cranberry for William)—has been exposed, seemingly drink by drink, in Britain's Daily Mirror by an undercover reporter who spent several nights partying with the princes and their pals in the Swiss Alps.

Emily Nash reports that Harry, 20, pined for his Zimbabwean girlfriend Chelsy Davy and became distraught when a beaded necklace she'd given him broke. "It's really special," he said. While raunchy Harry boasted that he wore no underwear, quizzed Nash about her own ("Oh, a G-string? D for Dangerous!"), said that his dad "definitely" fancied Davy and fled the heckling of some boozy club patrons, William, 22, seemed relaxed and polite. He sang along to Oasis's "Wonderwall" and danced with his girlfriend Kate Middleton ("There is lots of touching," Nash reports) and passed around a shared bottle of Galliano liqueur and wine. The Palace had no comment.

Earlier in the week, William had told a reporter from The Sun he was "too young to marry" Middleton. "I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30." He added that he and Kate were "very grateful to the media for the way they have allowed us a degree of space."

He might want to take that back.

Down to the Details
Charles and Camilla will arrive together in a 1962 Rolls-Royce once used by the Queen Mother.

Tom Parker Bowles, Camilla's son (and Charles's godson), and Prince William will serve as witnesses.

Among the 750 invited to the blessing at Windsor Castle: Prime Minister Tony Blair, Joan Rivers and Camilla's ex, Andrew Parker Bowles.

The reception will include a buffet of tea and finger food.