PRINCE CHARLES - PRINCE CHARLES SLAMS ILLEGAL MARRIAGE CLAIMS

LATEST: British Royal PRINCE CHARLES has slammed reports his proposed civil marriage to CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES would not be legal under British law.

Family law experts expressed "serious doubts" on BBC TV's PANORAMA special on Sunday (13FEB05). The lawyers pointed out the 1836 Marriage Act barred the royals from civil marriages, so if the longtime lovers tie the knot under current legislation, they would not be legally married.

A spokesperson for Prince Charles' office, Clarence House, says, "Legal advice was taken from four different sources and all agreed that it is legal for a member of the royal family to marry in a civil ceremony in England."