March 24, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Sunshine or showers for royal wedding?
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, March 24, Graphic News:  Prince Charles must be hoping that any lingering storm clouds now pass swiftly so that the sun may shine on his April 8 wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. But only time will tell whether his second marriage helps to modernise or further marginalise the monarchy.

With just days to go, the heir to the British throne and his bride-to-be still face questions over the legality of their planned wedding ceremony at a register office at the Windsor Guildhall, the QueenÕs decision not to attend is still a talking point, and that is before we even consider public attitudes towards the woman Princess Diana called the ÒRottweilerÓ.

But Prince Charles has shown that his feelings for the divorced mother of two are indeed Ònon-negotiableÓ, and has likely concluded that the couple has faced worse hurdles in the past.

Charles and Camilla first met at a polo match in 1970, where the Prince was apparently  very taken with the extrovert blonde who joked that her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel, had been the mistress of his great-great-grandfather, Edward VII. The couple became close, but Camilla married army officer Andrew Parker Bowles after Charles went overseas on Royal Navy duties.

Born Camilla Shand in 1947, she grew up on an estate in rural Sussex and shared CharlesÕs passion for an outdoorsy, unfussy way of life. The down-to-earth Camilla soon became one of the PrinceÕs closest confidants and reportedly even helped him to select his bride, Lady Diana Spencer -- a detail that would assume ironic significance later when it became clear that the Prince had committed adultery with Camilla during his marriage.

Her self-confidence undoubtedly helped her cope with ridicule during the ÒCamillagateÓ furore, after a tape of an intimate late-night phone call surfaced in which Prince Charles said he would like to be her tampon. She was even pelted with bread rolls in a supermarket after the 1997 death of Princess Diana, who had referred to her as the third person in her marriage, and was forced to step back from a public role she had been cautiously carving as Prince CharlesÕs new partner following their respective divorces.

Prince Charles, whose own popularity has suffered because of his links with Camilla, waited. The impending nuptials signify a compromise solution for a man who can afford to wait no longer. According to established law, Charles, who will become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he ascends the throne, could not marry a divorcee in a religious ceremony. But, despite government assurances, constitutional experts are still quibbling over whether the solution is legal. Added to this, recent revelations that Camilla would legally become Queen, despite her expressed preference to be known as the Princess Consort, has further muddied the waters.

It may be that, in seeking a solution on Camilla sooner rather than later, Prince Charles, 56, shows he appreciates the urgent need to update the monarchy. He once suggested, for example, that his title ÒDefender of the FaithÓ be changed to ÒDefender of FaithÓ to reflect the multicultural makeup of Britain. The Prince, a traditionalist whose forward-looking views on issues such as the environment are well known, has also been praised for his open-minded handling of son Harry after the latter admitted taking drugs.

This time there will be no spectacular parade or staged kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, But, whether or not his marriage helps to get rid of other outdated laws, as some critics hope, or establishes the new Princess Consort as an acceptable public figure for Britain, there can be few who would begrudge the heir to the throne happiness with his bride. Surely?
/ENDS