LONDON, March 21 -- Camilla Parker Bowles can become queen after all, despite earlier statements by Prince Charles that she will take a lesser title after marrying him, the government said Monday.
That's because Parker Bowles will, by law, automatically become queen when and if Charles is crowned.
When Prince Charles ascends to the throne, bride-to-be Camilla Parker Bowles will become Queen of England, the British government says.
(Kirsty Wigglesworth -- AP)
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While the British public has come around to supporting the marriage, opinion polls still show strong opposition to Parker Bowles taking the title of 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 nations of the Commonwealth.
Ever since Charles's office announced the wedding in February, preparations have been riddled with reversals. Charles and Parker Bowles were initially to get married at Windsor Castle, but were forced to choose a decidedly more downscale venue -- town hall. Then Queen Elizabeth dropped her plans to attend her son's April 8 wedding, immediately prompting speculation of a 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 status of the other.
"This is absolutely unequivocal that she automatically becomes queen when he becomes king," said Andrew Mackinlay, the lawmaker who raised the question.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs confirmed that interpretation, saying legislation would be required to deny Parker Bowles the title of queen.
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 future 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 of Princess Consort when and if he becomes king.
Until then, he said, she would become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, and would not be called Princess of Wales -- the title used by the late Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997.
