LONDON, April 4: Britain’s Prince Charles has postponed his marriage to long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles from Friday to Saturday so that he can attend the funeral of Pope John Paul in Rome. The heir to the British throne cut short his skiing holiday in Switzerland on Monday and flew back to London so he and Parker Bowles could attend a memorial in London’s Westminster Cathedral for the Pope.

“As a mark of respect, His Royal Highness and Mrs Parker Bowles have decided to postpone their wedding until Saturday,” said a spokeswoman at Clarence House, the prince’s office.

Prince Charles will be Queen Elizabeth’s representative at the funeral. Parker Bowles will not accompany him to Rome, Clarence House added.

Royal watchers said there had been no way to avoid the last-minute change of plan.

The rescheduling also resolved a potential protocol problem for others in the British establishment, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans.—Reuters