Saturday, February 12 2005 11:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Most Britons, some 65 per cent, welcome the royal marriage but have yet to come to terms with Camilla Parker Bowles being consort when Prince Charles succeeds to the throne, according to a survey, which also found for the first time that more people believe his son William should succeed Queen Elizabeth II.

Fewer than half surveyed are apparently content to accept Parker Bowles's proposed title of Princess Consort, said The YouGov poll conducted for The Daily Telegraph after Thursday's (Feb 10, 2005) announcement of the marriage from Clarence House, official residence of Prince Charles.

The survey finds, for the first time that more people believe Prince William rather than Prince Charles should become King on the death or retirement of the Queen Elizabeth II.

Considerably more think Camilla should have no title at all. Only seven per cent believe she should become queen.

YouGov's findings show that many people make a distinction between the personal and the constitutional.

Camilla and Charles as a married couple are acceptable but there is opposition to them being King and consort.

The poll suggests that the Prince ascending the throne with Camilla at his side could inflict further damage on the standing of the monarchy.

It has been under pressure since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and the disclosure of Mrs Parker Bowles's role in the Prince's marriage break-up. Views on the wedding ceremony are mostly benign and much of the hostility Parker Bowles faced after the death of Diana has faded.

Sixty-five per cent of respondents think the Prince and Parker Bowles should marry - a figure that was only 40 per cent in the late 1990s.

However, only 37 per cent appear ready to welcome Charles III to the throne. Forty-one per cent would now prefer to see the Queen succeeded by Prince William.

As many as 49 per cent also reject the idea that if the Prince does become King he should inherit the Queen's role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.

Some of these will clearly be opposed to the established Church on principle but others undoubtedly regard the personal conduct of the two divorcees as inconsistent with the exercise of religious stewardship.

The Times, in an editorial said that it was the right time and the royal marriage should be welcomed.

"The understandings reached for the ceremonies on April 8 thus strike the appropriate balance. A civil ceremony accurately reflects the conditions and status of the couple," the newspaper said in its comment.

The Guardian, in its editorial, said that the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in April will be the culmination of a relationship of operatic complexity and intensity magnified by being conducted under the gaze of a frequently censorious public and press.

"Now it seems they have a good chance of private happiness - and we wish them well."