Morning:
13°c
Prince and the Pope - Charles and Camilla have first audience with Benedict
Sri Carmichael27.04.09
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met Pope Benedict.
Charles had a private audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican for the first time since 1985, when he visited with Princess Diana.
Under Vatican protocol, the Prince met the Pope alone before they were joined by the Duchess and finally members of the royal household. As required, Camilla wore a black dress with matching veil. The visit took on added significance following the recent announcement by Gordon Brown that he had been in talks with Buckingham Palace about reversing a ban on heirs to the throne marrying Catholics.
Mr Brown is expected to raise the issue of ending centuries of discrimination against Catholics at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in November. Today's visit was the highlight of a two-day tour of Italy, where Charles is campaigning for environmental reforms, before travelling to Germany for a further two days.
The royal couple were both divorcees before they married in a civil ceremony in 2005 but this was not thought to have been an issue for the Vatican.
They were greeted by Swiss Guards and a Vatican nobleman after emerging from a convoy of cars inside a courtyard in the Catholic city.
Reader views (5)
If a woman falls in love with an heir to our throne and is not willing to convert from her faith to his then she clearly does not love him enough - after all she will probably have to turn a blind eye to his promiscuity and will always have to take second place to him..
They should introduce a new rule that if the heir to the throne cheats on his marriage then marries his mistress that he should forgo the throne and his son should be the next king.. Incidentially, Camilla looked great - she should always wear a veil.
Personally I don't care if Prince William (or any of his heirs) marries a hindu, muslim, jew or catholic BUT if the woman is not prepared to take the Church of England faith then how can her husband be at the head of the C of E?? Anyone who thinks this is discrimination needs their head examined.
As far as catholicism is concerned if we read our history books carefully we will find that the Pope was responsible for many "crimes" committed by the group of people now known as British - it is much better for our country and our main church to remain out of roman control... Anyway we are an overcrowded country already - if they banned birth control we would sink!!
- Suzy, London, England
The titular head of the CofE can't be a Catholic - what's so hard to understand about that?
- Rogan, Irving
Read the story, Scotty in Cambridge! Black sombre dress is required by Vatican protocol for any woman meeting the pope, including ex-mistresses. Meantime, the pope can wear all kinds of fancy costumes of course.
- Ben Adamson, New York, NY
I'm so glad Crash is concentrating on important things right now. He's a bit optimistic thinking he'll still be around in November though!
- Marianne (Uk National And Tax-Payer), SW France
Why is Camilla dressed as if going to a funeral?
- Scotty, Cambridge UK
