| Wednesday, March 23, 2005 |
| BRITISH LAW SAYS SHE'LL BE QUEEN CAMILLA |
Legistlation would be required to deny her legal right to the title
"She automatically becomes queen when he becomes king".--Andrew MacKinlay, British Member of Parliament.
LONDON---In the latest twist in the royal wedding saga, the British government revealed Monday that Britons will have to get used to Queen Camilla.
That's because Camilla Parker Bowles will, by law, automatically become queen when and if Charles is crowned.
While the public has come around to supporting the marriage, opinion polls still show strong opposition to Parker Bowles taking the title queen.
But any attempt to change the rules to bow to popular sentiment would be exceedingly difficult. It would require not only a new law in Britain, but also legislative changes in 15 other nations where the British monarch is head of state.
Ever since Prince Charles office announced the wedding in February, preparations have been riddled with reversals that have prompted many observers to liken the nuptials to a farce.
Charles and Parker Bowles were set to get married at Windsor Castle, but were forced to choose a decidedly more down scale venue-- town hall.
Then Queen Elizabeth II dropped her plans to attend her son's wedding, immediately prompting speculation of royal snub.
On Monday, Constitutional Affairs Minister Christopher Leslie said in a written statement responding to a lawmaker's question that the royal marriage would not be "morganatic"-- in which the spouse of inferior status has no claim to the atatue of the other.
"This is absolutely unquivocal that she automatically becomes queen when he becomes king", said Andrew Mackinlay, the lawmakers who raised the questions.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs confirmed that interpretation, saying legislation would be required to deny Parker Bowles the title of queen.
"I'm perfectly happy for the Prince of Wales to marry whoever he likes, but altering the constitution, is parliament's business and this does require an alteration to the constitution". Mackinlay said.
"It should'nt be done for one man and one man alone", he added.
Prime Minister Tony Blair was in no hurry to deal with the issue.
"The position at the moment is limited to what the title would be on her marriage in terms of any future events, let's wait until futrue events arise." Blair's official spokesman said.
Announcing his wedding plans last month, Charles said his future wife would be known by the lesser title Princess Consort when and if he becomes king.
Immediately after their April 8 wedding she will become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, and will not be called Princess of Wales -- the tile used by the late Princess Diana.
In making the wedding announcement, the prince subtly left the door open for changing his mind about Parker Bowles future status, saying "it is intended" that she would use the title Her Royal Highness the Princess Consort.
Some commentators believed that Charles was seeking to buy time to win over public acceptance of his wife as queen. After all, for years he said he had "no plans" to marry Parker Bowles".
(abstracted from CHICTRIB/Associated Press by: Robert Barr) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 4:50 AM |
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Name: infraternam meam
Home: Chicago, United States
About Me: I am now at the prime of my life
and have been married for the past 25 years.
Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita,
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