Prince Charles Says He Will Never Remarry

L O N D O N, July 18, 2000 -- Prince Charles does not intend to marry hislongtime companion Camilla Parker Bowles, according to a letter byhis private secretary published today.

The letter was sent on Monday to Britain’s Press ComplaintsCommission in response to an article in The Sunday Times claimingthat the prince was considering remarrying in Scotland. It wasreported in the national media today.

“Decisions like this are not taken lightly. We have got to theend of our tether,” the letter, written by Stephen Lamport, said.“There is no intention of remarrying. We keep saying it, but it isignored or dismissed as dissembling.

“This is not just about the Prince of Wales. He is concernedfor the feelings of his children, the children of Mrs. ParkerBowles, the memory of his late wife, and his public role,” itcontinued.

“There is to be no wedding and so it is pointless speculationotherwise,” the letter said.

It was the first time a formal complaint has been lodgeddirectly on Charles’ behalf with the press commission. Previously,he had only complained about an invasion of his sons’ privacy.

Frenzied Speculation

Charles and his advisers have been at pains to have the publicaccept 52-year-old Parker Bowles, who the prince’s ex-wife, thelate Princess Diana, blamed for the breakup of their marriage.

When his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, agreed to meet ParkerBowles earlier this year, there was frenzied speculation in themedia that a marriage might be in the future. Opinion polls haveshown that the public would not be in favor of them marrying.

The Sunday Times had claimed that Charles was mulling over aScottish marriage because The Presbyterian Church of Scotland iswilling to remarry divorced people. The Anglican Church of Englandfrowns on divorce.