Nickatilynx
04-04-2005, 01:35 PM
Royal wedding postponed for Pope
The couple had planned to wed on Friday in Windsor
The Prince of Wales' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles has been postponed until Saturday to allow him to attend the Pope's funeral in Rome.
The couple had intended to marry in Windsor on 8 April, but changed their plans when the Vatican announced arrangements for the funeral.
Clarence House said the prince, but not Mrs Parker Bowles, would represent the Queen at the funeral in Rome.
Following the decision, Downing Street confirmed Tony Blair would also attend.
The prime minister has also been invited to Prince Charles' wedding.
Clarence House said the postponement of the ceremony was "a mark of respect" for the pontiff.
Hopefully the majority of guests that were going on Friday will be there on Saturday
Paddy Harverson
Prince Charles' communications secretary
The Prince's spokesman added: "It is expected that the arrangements will be largely the same as previously planned and more details will be announced as soon as possible."
Paddy Harverson, Prince Charles' communications secretary, said Mrs Parker Bowles had agreed with the prince that postponement was "absolutely the right thing to do".
"The wedding is still going to be a good day, but it has just been pushed back 24 hours," Mr Harverson added.
"Hopefully the majority of guests that were going on Friday will be there on Saturday."
VIPs attend service
Prince Charles cut short his Swiss skiing holiday to attend the Mass for the Pope at Westminster Cathedral on Monday evening. Mrs Parker Bowles accompanied him.
Mr Blair, who delayed calling a general election as a mark of respect for the pontiff, was also at the service in London.
Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles plan to marry in a civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall and then attend a church blessing in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle which the Queen will attend.
Windsor ceremony
A 45-minute religious church blessing led by the Archbishop of Canterbury will follow.
Lloyd White, of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "We are happy to accommodate this alteration in the plans."
The three other weddings booked for the Guildhall on Saturday will not be disrupted
Lloyd White
Windsor and Maidenhead council
Three other weddings booked for the Guildhall on Saturday will not be disrupted, he added.
Grace Beesley, 33, from Windsor, who is marrying in the Guildhall at 1400 BST on Saturday, said she was "very excited" by news of the postponement.
The couple are likely to be the first married in the hall after the Royal couple.
Miss Beesley said: "We won't have to make any changes to our wedding - the registrar rang us this morning and told us that - so it will just be another dimension to the day and a bit more exciting."
Charles's quest to marry Camilla has been dogged by setbacks since their engagement was announced in February.
The Queen's decision to stay away from the civil ceremony, the row over whether Mrs Parker Bowles would ever be known as Queen and the change in venues from Windsor Castle to the local town hall have all featured in the long list of problems the Prince has faced.
Now royal staff will be hurrying to notify all 750 guests attending the blessing after the civil ceremony of the change in plan.
The couple had planned to wed on Friday in Windsor
The Prince of Wales' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles has been postponed until Saturday to allow him to attend the Pope's funeral in Rome.
The couple had intended to marry in Windsor on 8 April, but changed their plans when the Vatican announced arrangements for the funeral.
Clarence House said the prince, but not Mrs Parker Bowles, would represent the Queen at the funeral in Rome.
Following the decision, Downing Street confirmed Tony Blair would also attend.
The prime minister has also been invited to Prince Charles' wedding.
Clarence House said the postponement of the ceremony was "a mark of respect" for the pontiff.
Hopefully the majority of guests that were going on Friday will be there on Saturday
Paddy Harverson
Prince Charles' communications secretary
The Prince's spokesman added: "It is expected that the arrangements will be largely the same as previously planned and more details will be announced as soon as possible."
Paddy Harverson, Prince Charles' communications secretary, said Mrs Parker Bowles had agreed with the prince that postponement was "absolutely the right thing to do".
"The wedding is still going to be a good day, but it has just been pushed back 24 hours," Mr Harverson added.
"Hopefully the majority of guests that were going on Friday will be there on Saturday."
VIPs attend service
Prince Charles cut short his Swiss skiing holiday to attend the Mass for the Pope at Westminster Cathedral on Monday evening. Mrs Parker Bowles accompanied him.
Mr Blair, who delayed calling a general election as a mark of respect for the pontiff, was also at the service in London.
Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles plan to marry in a civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall and then attend a church blessing in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle which the Queen will attend.
Windsor ceremony
A 45-minute religious church blessing led by the Archbishop of Canterbury will follow.
Lloyd White, of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "We are happy to accommodate this alteration in the plans."
The three other weddings booked for the Guildhall on Saturday will not be disrupted
Lloyd White
Windsor and Maidenhead council
Three other weddings booked for the Guildhall on Saturday will not be disrupted, he added.
Grace Beesley, 33, from Windsor, who is marrying in the Guildhall at 1400 BST on Saturday, said she was "very excited" by news of the postponement.
The couple are likely to be the first married in the hall after the Royal couple.
Miss Beesley said: "We won't have to make any changes to our wedding - the registrar rang us this morning and told us that - so it will just be another dimension to the day and a bit more exciting."
Charles's quest to marry Camilla has been dogged by setbacks since their engagement was announced in February.
The Queen's decision to stay away from the civil ceremony, the row over whether Mrs Parker Bowles would ever be known as Queen and the change in venues from Windsor Castle to the local town hall have all featured in the long list of problems the Prince has faced.
Now royal staff will be hurrying to notify all 750 guests attending the blessing after the civil ceremony of the change in plan.