Palace dismisses Charles-Camilla marriage reports
( 2001-08-16 14:04 ) (7 )

Buckingham Palace on Thursday dismissed as speculation reports that Queen Elizabeth had finally agreed that Prince Charles and his long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles could marry.

British newspapers published advanced extracts of an article in the Spectator magazine that suggested the queen had "grudgingly" accepted the couple should be free to wed after next year's Golden Jubilee celebrations of her monarchy.

"This is total speculation," a Buckingham Palace official said.

The Daily Telegraph quoted the Spectator as saying royal courtiers were in despair about the religious, legal and constitutional difficulties of a marriage between heir-to-the-throne Charles and Camilla.

But the Spectator said the courtiers were also aware "it is both cruel and absurd that the Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles should be forced to contemplate old age deprived of the benefits and comfort of marriage".

It added: "The Spectator is reliably informed that the queen has come around, somewhat grudgingly, to this view."

In June, Charles and Camilla sealed their long-time relationship with their first public kiss.

The kiss was heralded by royal watchers as a milestone in the relationship and underlining Charles's determination that Camilla be publicly accepted as his partner.

Charles has trodden a delicate public relations path over his relationship with divorcee Camilla since his marriage to the late Princess Diana ended in 1996 with admissions of adultery on both sides. Diana was killed in a Paris car crash a year later.

Charles and Camilla have gradually increased the frequency and profile of engagements they attend together.

Camilla met Queen Elizabeth for the first time last year at a birthday party for former King Constantine of Greece.

Marriage is a difficult issue for the couple because of the royal family's links with the Church of England, of which Charles is due one day to become supreme governor.

Last year newspapers reported that Charles was exploring the possibility of marrying in the Church of Scotland which, unlike the Church of England, is happy to marry divorcees in a religious ceremony.