THE Archbishop of Canterbury has cleared the way for the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles to marry, The Times can reveal.

A friend of the Prince, who is authorised to speak on his behalf, confirmed publicly for the first time yesterday that the couple had discussed marriage. In the past, courtiers have refused even privately to acknowledge that such discussions had taken place.

But the friend told The Times last night: “It would be wrong to give the impression that they have not talked about it and are against it. That would not be right. But nobody will rush into it or bounce them into it. It’s a personal decision.”

The admission came after Dr Rowan Williams dropped his objections after secret talks with the Prince last year. The Archbishop indicated that he would support a union if the couple chose to formalise their relationship. But the marriage would raise constitutional questions and would require the Queen’s consent.

It was unclear whether the Church would sanction a remarriage in church but it is unlikely to object if the Prince decided on a low-key wedding in St Mary’s, Tetbury, his local church in Gloucestershire.

Last year, the Church of England relaxed its rules on the remarriage of divorcees. The General Synod agreed that there were exceptional circumstances where divorcees with a partner still alive could remarry in church.

Senior members of the Church of England’s evangelical wing, which takes a conservative line on sexual matters, would support the marriage if the Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles acknowledged wrongdoing in the past.

Dr Williams has opposed the remarriage of divorcees where a previous partner is still living, except in exceptional circumstances. The view of the Church of England leadership is critical, because, as King, the Prince would succeed his mother as Supreme Governor of the Church.

The revelations came after the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, whose autobiography is serialised in The Times today, said that it was natural that the couple should marry.

Challenged as to when any announcement could take place, the Prince’s friend said that it was out of the question until the inquiry by Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, had been concluded.

The friend said: “With the inquest and the inquiry under way, nothing can be considered until we reached the next stage.” Pressed when that would be, the friend said: “Early next year at the soonest.”

Clarence House maintained the official line. A spokeswoman said: “It’s a private matter and we will not comment.”

Under the Royal Marriage of Act 1772, the Prince has to receive the permission of the monarch to marry.

The Queen, who has met Mrs Parker Bowles on only a handful of occasions since confirmation of her relationship with the Prince, has been implacably hostile to remarriage. Friends of the Prince and many senior courtiers at Buckingham Palace want the situation resolved before he succeeds to the throne.

Most Anglican leaders would rather have their future Supreme Governor married than continuing in his present situation, sources indicated.

But they would accept a marriage more readily if there were repentance, sources said. Repentance would be a private matter between the couple and their spiritual pastor.

Bishops and other church leaders are unwilling to comment publicly but sources indicated that leading members of the evangelical lobby would raise no objection if there were an indication of repentance.

The Rev Rod Thomas, priest-in-charge of St Matthew’s, Plymouth, and spokesman for Reform, the influential conservative evangelical organisation, said: “Evangelicals will not speak uniformly on this issue. But there are a number who think that if there is acknowledgement of wrongdoing, then there is no real bar on remarriage.”

The Ven Michael Lawson, a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council, said: “From a Christian point of view, everyone should be allowed a new start in life. Many would like to see their relationship regularised.”

Jonathan Wynne-Jones, deputy editor of The Church of England Newspaper, said: “What Lord Carey is saying would be backed up by most Christians who believe in the power of forgiveness.”

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