Prince 'pleased' as marriage objections dismissed

“I am satisfied that none of these objections should obstruct the issue of a (marriage) certificate,” said Len Cook, Registrar Genera for England and Wales.

Principal grounds for objection were that the law did not allow the Prince to marry outside the church in a civil ceremony.

But Mr Cook ruled that the relevant legislation, backed more recently by the European Convention on Human Rights and 1998 Human Rights Act, did not prevent the royal marriage.

The deadline for formal objections passed on March 4.

It is unclear whether objectors may now apply for judicial review at the High Court.

Those opposed to the royal wedding could attempt to attend the ceremony, at Windsor’s Guildhall, and voice their protests.

A spokesman for the Prince at Clarence House, his London residence, said the Prince, currently touring New Zealand, and Mrs Parker Bowles were “pleased” that the certificate of marriage could now be issued.

Public access to the wedding ceremony was still under review, notably by police concerned with security issues, the spokesman said.

Today’s ruling by the Registrar General backs Government legal opinion that the marriage would be lawful.

Royal advisers have relied on the advice of Government lawyers who were consulted before Prime Minister Tony Blair responded to the Queen’s request for his and ministers’ opinions.

The Superintendent Registrars for Chippenham and Cirencester, the areas where Charles and Camilla have homes, had received 11 objections and forwarded them to the Registrar General.

None amounted to a legal impediment to the wedding under the 1949 Marriage Act, said Mr Cook.

He said that in view of public interest, and with the agreement of the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles, he was issuing the following statement.

“The Superintendent Registrars for Chippenham and Cirencester have received and referred to me 11 caveats objecting to the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles.

“The principal grounds of objection are that the law does not allow the Prince of Wales to marry in a civil ceremony because:

1. Members of the Royal Family are a special category;

2. Special rules apply to this category; and

3. Section 79(5) of the Marriage Act 1949 states that “Nothing in this Act shall affect any law or custom relating to the marriage of members of the Royal Family and the provisions of the 1949 Act governing civil marriages do not therefore apply to marriages of members of the Royal Family.”

Mr Cook’s statement continued: “I have examined into this matter and I am satisfied that it ought not to obstruct the issue of a certificate because:

1. The natural reading of section 79(5) is that it preserves, for example, the Royal Marriages Act 1772, and the custom of the Royal Family to maintain a Royal Marriage Register; but

2. Does not exclude members of the Royal Family from Part III of the 1949 Act (as amended, in particular by the Marriage Act 1994);

3. A reading of the 1949 Act which prevented the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles from contracting a civil marriage would interfere with their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention); and

4. Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998, which requires legislation to be interpreted and given effect to in a way which is compliant with Convention rights, is a strong obligation which supports the conclusion that the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles can rely on the provisions of Part III of the 1949 Act.

“A number of other points have also been mentioned in the caveats and I have investigated whether any of these amount to a legal impediment to marriage under the Marriage Act 1949.

“I am satisfied that none of these objections should obstruct the issue of a certificate.

“Accordingly I have responded to the individual caveats and instructed the Superintendent Registrars for Chippenham and Cirencester to issue their certificates for marriage to the Prince of Wales and to Mrs Parker Bowles.”