Thursday, March 24 2005 11:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: The sons of Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will serve as witnesses at their civil wedding next month, which will be also attended by immediate family, the prince's office said yesterday (Mar 23, 2005).

The heir to the throne's elder son Prince William, whose mother was the late Princess Diana, and Tom Parker Bowles will be witnesses at the April 8 wedding at the town hall in Windsor, west of London, Clarence House said.

In a statement flushing out details about the marriage, it also revealed that Charles's younger brothers Princes Andrew and Edward as well as his sister Princess Anne would attend the ceremony.

Their mother Queen Elizabeth II, however, has already decided that she would be absent along with their father Prince Philip.

Royal aides announced last month that the Queen declined to attend the civil ceremony in deference to their wishes for a "low-key" event, but would be present afterward for the blessing in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

However, royal watchers in the British media called her planned absence a major snub and scoffed at the excuse given, suggesting it was because she was unhappy the pair had been forced to marry in an ordinary town hall.

The couple had dropped plans to wed in Windsor Castle because it did not have the correct licence for a civil ceremony.

Also attending the wedding will be Charles's younger son Prince Harry and Camilla's daughter Laura as well as Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand, the prince's office said.