Marry Camilla, Charles told

2002-04-16 11:50

London- Hailing what it said would be a "perfect match", Britain's tabloid Sun daily called on Tuesday for Prince Charles finally to marry his long-term partner Camilla Parker Bowles.

In a front-page editorial, the Sun, the country's biggest-selling daily newspaper, said the time was now right for the heir to the throne to marry Parker Bowles.

"Britain has changed since the tragic death of Princess Diana," his former wife, the Sun said, adding that it sensed a shifting public mood.

"Camilla has been the rock to which Charles has clung in the dark days since the Queen Mum's death.

"Hers was the shoulder he cried on. Hers was the hand that soothed his brow as he mourned his 'magical, wonderful' grandmother."

The death at 101 of the Queen Mother on March 30 had removed an obstacle to their marriage, it went on, as she had been fiercely opposed to it.

"But the Queen Mum's passing was a turning point, a time to put the past aside and look to the future," the Sun added.

'Scarlet woman'

The newspaper has impeccable royal contacts and is close to the prince, who has worked hard to revive his image in the years since Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Then, he and the rest of the royal family were perceived as uncaring and begrudging to his former wife, while Parker Bowles was vilified as a scarlet woman who had broken up their marriage.

Opinion polls since then have shown a softening in public attitudes to the idea of their marriage - both are divorced - provided she does not become queen.

In a poll on Monday for Channel 4 television, 40% of the 1 000 people questioned said they would accept a marriage on that condition, up six points on the figure two years ago.

Other surveys in the past few months have shown even more support for the idea.

Charles met Parker Bowles more than 30 years ago and at one point was said to be close to proposing to her, but she married another and in 1981 he wed Diana, with whom he has two sons, princes William and Harry.

However, their relationship re-ignited as his marriage to Diana inexorably deteriorated. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA