Royal Marriage Controversy Overcooked

The British press and clergy may be in turmoil over the impending marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, but judging by the views of the public, as seen in a BMRB poll this weekend, there is little reason not to just 'get on with it'.

Almost twice as many Britons approved (27%) as disapproved (14%) of Prince Charles' decision to marry, and the remainder (53%) said they did not care either way. This means only one in seven will be unhappy with the marriage. Among younger people (aged 16 - 34) almost two thirds do not care either way (63%).

Around six in ten (59%) think Ms Parker Bowles should be known as the Duchess of Cornwall, but at this stage only around one in ten (11%) think she should be known as Princess of Wales. Almost a quarter think she should not have any of the principal three titles to which she is entitled at present (the third is Duchess of Rothesay).

When Charles becomes King, the choice of title may be more controversial. Fewer than one in ten (9%) think his wife-to-be should be Queen and around a third (31%) think she should have no title at all, while 41% think the title Princess Consort appropriate.

BMRB interviewed 1,003 British citizens aged 16+ by telephone between 11th and 13th February. The agency is on the web at www.bmrb.co.uk

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.