1 month ago 10th Nov 14:00
Britain's Prince Charles' second marriage may not be legal, secret documents have revealed.
The government have been accused of a cover-up, after confidential Whitehall papers suggest Charles and his now-wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, should have been told of the law banning them from marrying in a civil wedding.
The couple tied the knot in 2005 after then-Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer overruled claims the British royal family can't marry in a registry office.
However, politician Norman Baker insists the confidential files should be made public to determine if the marriage is legal.
The Marriage Act of 1949 reinforced the ruling, saying: Nothing in this act shall affect any law or custom relating to the marriage of members of the royal family
Baker said: "This would appear to be yet another example where the government provides legal advice which it deems convenient rather than accurate. It seems they may have done in the case of the royal wedding."
The row surrounds the Marriage Act of 1836 which introduced civil weddings, but excluded the royal family from such ceremonies.
The Marriage Act of 1949 reinforced the ruling, saying: "Nothing in this act shall affect any law or custom relating to the marriage of members of the royal family."
More about Prince Charles' 'illegal' wedding? on page 2
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by Joan Berry - 06:57:40 12th Nov 2008
This story reinforces what most many constitutional experts and members of the clergy said at the time - the wedding in a civil ceremony was illegal. ... READ MORE