Mrs Parker Bowles, according to the plans announced last week by Clarence House, will be the first Princess Consort, reflecting the huge public opposition to her becoming Queen.

But senior courtiers conceded yesterday that they had deliberately left open the possibility of her becoming Queen if there is a change in public mood towards the future Duchess of Cornwall.

The Prince of Wales privately wants his future wife to become his queen and is hoping that public attitudes will soften over time.

A senior aide to the Prince of Wales said: “It is hypothetical. When the time comes, which we hope is a long way off, an option would be to reflect the mood in the country at that time.”

A leading law expert said yesterday that Mrs Parker Bowles would legally be Queen when Prince Charles inherits the throne, whatever title she uses.

Stephen Cretney, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, said that the issue was “exhaustively researched” by senior government lawyers at the time of the abdication crisis in 1936.

Dr Cretney also cast doubt on whether Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles could marry in a civil ceremony.

“It is puzzling that we are told the wedding is to be a civil ceremony because I believe the Marriage Act 1836, which created civil marriages, was stated not to apply to members of the Royal Family,” he said.

But Clarence House yesterday rejected the advice.

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