Royal wedding intensifies general election speculation
The news that Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are to wed on April 8 has added fire to the already intensive speculation that the general election will be on May 5.
With the Whitsun parliamentary recess ending on April 4, Tony Blair would have to call an election that week if he wished to hold an election on May 5 – when the local government elections will be held.
A number of commentators have suggested that Mr Blair could seek to cash in on the ‘feel-good’ factor that traditionally accompanies a royal wedding.
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles made their first public appearance last night since the announcement of their engagement yesterday.
The Prince of Wales, 56, and his 57-year-old fiancee hosted a dinner at Windsor Castle, where Mrs Parker Bowles flashed an antique platinum and diamond engagement ring.
She said that the prince had got down on one knee to propose, adding: “I’m just coming down to earth.”
After the civil ceremony at Windsor Castle, Mrs Parker Bowles will take the title HRH Duchess of Cornwall.
A survey by the Daily Telegraph yesterday suggests that two thirds of Britons back the marriage, but that they are divided over the title Mrs Parker Bowles should assume after Prince Charles becomes king.
Only seven per cent believed she should become queen; 40 per cent agreed with the planned title of Princess Consort; but 47 per cent believe she should have no title.
The Queen yesterday issued her “warmest good wishes” to the couple, while Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was “delighted” at the news.
Princes William and Harry, the Prince of Wales’ two sons by Princess Diana, also gave their support for the union, which comes almost eight years after their mother died in a car crash in Paris.
In a statement issued by Clarence House, they said: “We are both very happy for our father and Camilla and wish them all the luck in their future.”
The marriage is likely to cause controversy because Mrs Parker-Bowles is divorced. Prince Charles would become head of the Church of England if he became king, but many Anglicans object to the re-marriage of divorcees.
However, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, gave his blessing to the marriage and has agreed to preside over a prayer service during the ceremony.
“I hope and pray that [the marriage] will prove a source of comfort and strength to them and to those who are closest to them,” Dr Williams said.
The announcement ends years of speculation about the future of the couple, who first met in 1971. Princess Diana famously said there were “three of us in this marriage”, referring to Mrs Parker Bowles’ continuing friendship with her husband.
The Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders congratulated the couple, as did Australian prime minister John Howard, who said the marriage was a “sensible and a good thing”.
