Key Highlights :
1. Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey recalls his secret meeting with Camilla Parker Bowles in Peckham where he was convinced to help smooth the way for her relationship with Charles The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor is released today on ITVX.
2. It was said to be instrumental in smoothing the way for King Charles and Camilla's 2005 wedding.
3. Years prior, the late Queen Elizabeth II had refused to entertain the idea of the couple being together officially. Recalling why he decided to meet in southeast London, Lord Carey said: 'I wanted somewhere secret that wasn't in my office and therefore wouldn't arouse the interest of other people and get out. 'I said, "I have a son in Peckham. This is his address. Can we meet?"'
4. A few weeks later, Charles' future wife visited the address and Lord Carey was struck by 'nice-looking, intelligent' Camilla, explaining: 'We had a really animated conversation. Charles and Camilla leaving The Ritz hotel in London after attending a 50th birthday party for Camilla's sister in their first official outing together in 1999 'We talked about her relationship with Charles, going way back to when they were teenagers,' he continued during episode four. 'And after she left I said, "Well, there's no way I could ever treat her as other than a really nice human being who's deeply in love with Charles." 'And that affected me in talking to other people behind the scenes. I hoped it had a way forward, I think it did.'
5. Speaking about the royal couple's wedding in 2005, Lady Anne Glenconner , the late Princess Margaret 's lady-in-waiting, said Charles was 'beaming'. 'I've known [Charles] since he was about four and I've just never seen him look so happy. He realised at last he was where he wanted to be,' she added.
6. In an earlier episode, the former Archbishop of Canterbury - who was 'pitched in to help' with King Charles and Princess Diana 's marriage - suggested they were never going to be 'successful'. Lord Carey told he was called in to try and rescue the couple's turbulent relationship.
George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has revealed that he spoke to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, about her future and convinced her to "talk to other people behind the scenes." Carey told ITVX's The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor that his "animated conversation" with Camilla in Peckham, convinced him to "talk to other people behind the scenes."
Carey, who retired from his post in 2013, said that he was "somewhat surprised" when he was approached by Buckingham Palace about becoming the next Archbishop of Canterbury. He added: "I was quite happy to retire, but then I was asked to come back and I accepted." Carey, who has been married to his wife, Janet, for more than 40 years, revealed that he and Camilla had a "very animated conversation" about her future. He said: "I said to her: 'What do you want to do? Do you want to stay on as Duchess of Cornwall or do you want to go and talk to other people behind the scenes?' And she said: 'I don't know. I don't know what I want to do.' And I said: 'Well, I think you should talk to other people behind the scenes.'"
Carey added that he was "quite surprised" when he was approached by Buckingham Palace about becoming the next Archbishop of Canterbury. He added: "I was quite happy to retire, but then I was asked to come back and I accepted." Carey, who has been married to his wife, Janet, for more than 40 years, revealed that he and Camilla had a "very animated conversation" about her future. He said: "I said to her: 'What do you want to do? Do you want to stay on as Duchess of Cornwall or do you want to go and talk to other people behind the scenes?' And she said: 'I don't know. I don't know what I want to do.' And I said: 'Well, I think you should talk to other people behind the scenes.'"
Carey, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 2003 to 2013, will appear on The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor on ITVX on Sunday, October 22 at 9pm.
