http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=338503&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=&ct=5 Prince and Camilla marriage 'legal' 17:50pm 20th February 2005 The Lord Chancellor has defended his view that the Prince of Wales' forthcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles will be legal.
Lord Falconer's comments follow debate over whether the couple's civil marriage is permissible under current legislation. Some experts claim the present law does not allow civil marriages for members of the Royal Family in England. But Lord Falconer said: "I remain confident that the Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles can marry in a civil ceremony. We have considered every aspect of this and taken all the appropriate advice." He told the Mail on Sunday that the 1949 Marriage Act, which updated the law on civil marriages, did not exclude the Royal Family as the 1836 Act had done. "We have been very thorough and are confident we have got it right. We wish to put no bar in the way of the Royal Wedding," he said. Sources at Clarence House said the Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles had received legal advice from four different sources. A spokeswoman said: "We are very confident that the advice received from the Government was correct. Comprehensive consultation had already taken place before the announcement was made." But Dr Stephen Cretney QC, Emeritus Fellow of Legal History, Oxford University, last week cast doubt over the legality of a civil marriage any member of the Royal Family in England. He told a BBC Panorama investigation: "There is no statutory procedure whereby members of the Royal Family can marry in a register office. Although there may be this ceremony and public rejoicing, it could be the Prince of Wales is not married and Mrs Parker Bowles is not his wife and constitutionally it's important to know whether they are married or not." The April wedding venue was last week changed from Windsor Castle to the Guildhall in Windsor amid concerns that licensing the royal palace would cause too much disruption. The blessing afterwards will still take place in the Castle's St George's Chapel. -- Comment: The 1949 act updated the 1836 Act which had specifically excluded members of the Royal family from effecting Civil weddings. The crux is whether the 1949 act specifically set aside the restriction ? It appears not ! Cheers, Gabe Menezes. Wimbledon, England
