Camilla Parker Bowles: Princess of Wales?



(image via Ancestry.com)

Cousin-marriage: For when the family tree is not unlike a Christmas wreath. It's not just an Arkansan rite of passage anymore. According to Ancestry.com:

"When Prince Charles first met Camilla Parker-Bowles at a polo match in the early seventies, she said to the prince,'My great-grandmother and your great-great grandfather were lovers, so howabout it?'"

Ah, a pick-up line worthy of the Giuliani family; while we go in for the "face of a Botticelli and the body of a Degas" chat up ourselves -- to each his own:

"Today, genealogical research shows they have an even stronger bond,they are ninth cousins. According to family history experts at Ancestry.com, a service of MyFamily.com, Inc., Prince Charles and Camilla are ninth cousins once removed."

Charmed, I'm sure. Although that isn't the reason the nuptials will be held back. According to Hello!Magazine:

"Just five days from the royal wedding of the year, Clarence House has announced that Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will not marry on Friday as planned, due to the fact that the Pope's funeral is to be held that day. Clarence House has also confirmed Prince Charles will be attending the April 8 funeral mass in Rome, postponing his wedding until the following day, Saturday April 9.

"And in yet another twist in Charles and Camilla's path to marriage, it appears Camilla will inherit the title Princess of Wales, which was once held by Charles' first wife, Princess Diana. This new development, which was expected to be officially confirmed by the government on Monday, conflicts with previous reports that the Prince of Wales' new wife would not bear the title."

All of these events -- and the death of Lord Callahan -- have created some Johnny Rottennish anarchy in the UK, as Manchester Online notes:

"The Queen has to decide which senior member of the Royal Family should attend the funeral of the Pope, who was himself a head of state.

"'It would have been the Prince of Wales in other circumstances,' said (the unfortunately named 'Dickie") Arbiter, but, given Rome's view on divorce and the fact that the Prince of Wales is divorced and is likely to make attending the Pope's funeral his priority.

"The Queen has to decide which senior member of the Royal Family should attend the funeral of the Pope, who was himself a head of state.'It would have been the Prince of Wales in other circumstances,' said Mr Arbiter, 'but, given Rome's view on divorce and the fact that the Prince is divorced and is marrying a divorcee, I believe the Duke of Edinburgh would be the most logical choice.'"

And genetically correct, we imagine.