the future king to have illegal marriage?
from AntBlog701

the future king to have illegal marriage?

From this news article, Last-minute legal hitch for Charles (News.com.au, March 31, 2005)
Princess Margaret and Capt. Peter Townsend could not get married in civil service in 1955. And HRH Price Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles is planned to get married in a civil service.
Translation: the marriage will be illegal.
Unless they are going to change the laws.

Papers released under the Freedom of Information Act showed ministers refused to countenance a civil marriage for Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend in 1955.

Last-minute legal hitch for Charles (News.com.au, March 31, 2005)

DEBATE about the legality of Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles reopened yesterday with the release of 50-year-old documents.

The Government papers insist members of the Royal Family cannot marry in civil services.

Papers released under the Freedom of Information Act showed ministers refused to countenance a civil marriage for Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend in 1955.

Some family law experts claim legislation passed by Parliament in the 18th and 19th centuries still means members of the royal family cannot marry in registry offices.

The Government argues subsequent legislation supersedes the laws preventing royals from marrying in civil ceremonies.

Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, says the Human Rights Act, which says citizens should be able to marry without fear of discrimination, has put any question "beyond doubt".

But the publication of the legal advice prepared by the government in 1955 threatens to rekindle the debate days before Charles and Camilla marry in a civil service in Windsor.

The papers were drawn when Princess Margaret was considering marrying the royal equerry, Group Captain Townsend.

The Princess wanted a civil wedding, but the government advised her it was not possible.

The then lord chancellor, Lord Kilmuir, wrote in a memo for the cabinet: "Marriages of members of the royal family are still not in the same position as marriages of other persons, for such marriages have always been expressly excluded from the statutes about marriage in England and Wales.

"This means that, in England and Wales, such a marriage can be validly celebrated only by a Church of England clergyman.

"A civil marriage before the registrar and marriage according to the rights of any other Church than the Church of England are not possible."

He said the position was different in Scotland, where members of the royal family could marry in a registry office or in church of their choosing.