Charles and Camilla win bishops' support
Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles has been given official approval by bishops, which raises the possibility they could wed.
Their statements represent a significant move away from the hard line taken previously by the Church of England when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, warned of a constitutional crisis if the couple married.
'Great numbers of people have a fellow feeling with both Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles, and the fact that they get some support and mutual encouragement from one another, they clearly have a deep friendship, I think deserves understanding and compassion,' the Right Reverend Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, said.
'At the moment, Prince Charles has made it quite clear that he and Camilla have no short or medium-term plans to get married.
'I don't think - whether it's Prince Charles or anybody else - that we should push any couple into any precipitate action.' The Right Reverend Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, also spoke of the strength of the prince's relationship with Camilla, saying it should not stand in the way of his becoming the head of the Church of England on taking the throne.
