Buckingham Palace yesterday refused to comment on speculation that Queen Elizabeth had 'somewhat grudgingly' agreed to the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Palace was declining invitations to comment after an article in this week's Spectator magazine stated that in order to overcome the sensitivities of the Church of England, the couple could marry in a civil ceremony after next year's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Quoting a 'Palace observer', the political journalist, Mr Peter Oborne, said that after the celebrations a British royal wedding would be 'the next thing on the agenda'. The religious, constitutional and legal difficulties involved in such a marriage are currently under consideration by Palace courtiers, according to the article, but the essential fact of a marriage had already been agreed.
'In recent months, however, there has been a marked change at the Palace. One well-informed Palace observer says that the Queen accepts that the last great things she has to do in her reign is to sort out the relationship between Charles and Camilla, and in practice that means to smile on a marriage,' Mr Oborne wrote.
On the question of what royal titles Mrs Parker Bowles might take after the wedding, Mr Oborne said Palace officials were already giving the issue some thought and had effectively ruled out the title of Princess of Wales.
'My own view,' a courtier is quoted in the article, 'is that it would be far better for Camilla never to have royal titles. Obviously Charles would want her by his side at dinners and royal functions, but it would be important both from the point of view of the public and of the boys that she would not usurp any role Diana would have taken.' As some constitutional experts suggested the idea of a civil marriage was 'inconceivable' for the future head of the Church of England, Mr Oborne defended his article. 'I spent the last few weeks speaking quite intensively to a number of courtiers and people close to the Palace, who I know are aware of what is going on,' he told BBC Radio 4. 'I have been told that the Queen realises she must sort out the relationship before Charles becomes King.'
Mr Oborne also said that he had been told a civil marriage ceremony could take place in 2003 or 2004 followed by a church blessing. He added: 'What I was told is that Charles tells friends "I am a miserable sinner." He recognises that he has done wrong in the eyes of God and must account for his actions. He doesn't feel proud of having committed adultery.'
However, Mr Harold Brooks-Baker, a constitutional commentator, said marriage options open to other members of the Royal family - Princess Anne married in Scotland - were not available to the Prince if he wanted to become King and future head of the Church of England.
'The Prince of Wales will not marry a divorced person without the Church of England changing its regulations so that all divorced people in the Kingdom can officially be married by an Anglican priest,' he said.