Charles to marry Camilla

The Prince of Wales is to marry his long-time partner Camilla Parker Bowles - but she will never be Queen, Clarence House said today.

Mrs Parker Bowles will become HRH Duchess of Cornwall when she weds Charles on Friday April 8 and will be known as the Princess Consort when he eventually becomes King.

The pair will marry in Windsor Castle.

Charles said he and his wife-to-be were "absolutely delighted" at their engagement.

The wedding will be a civil ceremony in Windsor Castle followed by a service of prayer and dedication in St George's Chapel at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside.

The Queen has given her son and heir formal permission to marry and also herwarmest good wishes.

In a brief statement issued on her behalf by Buckingham Palace, the Queen said: "The Duke of Edinburgh and I are very happy that the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles are to marry.

"We have given them our warmest good wishes for their future together."

Charles spoke of his delight in a statement released by Clarence House.

He said: "Mrs Parker Bowles and I are absolutely delighted. It will be a very special day for us and our families."

The statement read: "It is with great pleasure that the marriage of HRH the Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles is announced.

"It will take place on Friday April 8, 2005, at Windsor Castle."

A Clarence House spokesman gave details of Mrs Parker Bowles's name change after her wedding - which avoids giving her the title the Princess of Wales.

He said: "Mrs Parker Bowles will use the title HRH the Duchess of Cornwall after marriage,"It is intended that Mrs Parker Bowles should use the title the Princess Consort when the Prince accedes to the throne.

"The wedding will be a largely private occasion for family and friends. There will be a civil ceremony in Windsor Castle.

"There will subsequently be a service of prayer and dedication in St George's Chapel at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside."

The announcement of the forthcoming marriage - more than 30 years after the pair first met - ends years of controversy and rumour about their future.

It comes nearly nine years after Charles divorced his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales and almost eight years after the Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris.

The wedding will take place before the completion of the inquest into the Princess's death.

Former head of the Metropolitan Police Sir John Stevens is still investigating the 1997 Paris car crash.

Mrs Parker Bowles's previous position - as Charles's live-in partner - has meant her status was dogged with problems, including controversy over her seating at social functions away from the heir to the throne, and questions over the cost of her lifestyle and how it was funded by the Prince.

Last June, she was mentioned in the Prince's accounts for the first time - signalling a new realm of acceptance.

In November, a reported disagreement over seating at a society wedding is said to have led to Charles and Camilla pulling out of the engagement.

It was suggested that, for the marriage of Lady Tamara Grosvenor, daughter of the Duke of Westminster, and Edward van Cutsem, attended by the Queen, Camilla was to be seated away from her long-term partner.

Mrs Parker Bowles has joined the Prince at numerous engagements in the past few years - mostly wearing glamorous gowns at evening events for The Prince's Trust.

Clarence House staff were at pains to point out when she attended these that she did so in a private capacity.

But the impending wedding will now allow her to be at the Prince's side full-time in an official capacity.

A significant media moment in their relationship was in January 1999 when the couple were pictured together emerging from the Ritz Hotel in London after the 50th birthday party of Camilla's sister Annabel.

The first joint appearance had been carefully choreographed by Charles's then spin-doctor Mark Bolland.

Charles and Camilla shared their first public kiss in June 2001 when the Prince arrived at a party thrown by Mrs Parker Bowles to support the National Osteoporosis Society and pecked her on the cheek.

Royal commentator Judy Wade said the announcement had "come as a shock".

She said: "I thought they would marry but not so soon. I think the Prince is a very determined man and he's finally got his way."

Friends of the Prince of Wales welcomed today's news.

Conservative MP Nicholas Soames said he was "absolutely delighted".

"I'm very, very happy for both the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles. I think it's wonderful," he said.

Charles and Camilla first met at a Windsor polo match in the early seventies.