Philip urged Queen time was right

The Duke of Edinburgh was the driving force behind the Queen's decision to sanction the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.

He is understood to have persuaded the Queen that the time was right to end the years of speculation. Philip, to whom the Queen defers on private family matters, stressed it was crucial that the marriage question be resolved before Charles became king.

A senior palace courtier said: "The Duke of Edinburgh has always been much maligned but in truth he cares deeply about his family and wanted his eldest son to achieve personal happiness in his lifetime."

Mrs Parker Bowles said she was "just coming down to earth" today after Charles went down on one knee to propose.

She revealed her delight as the couple made their first public appearance together since the announcement that they are to marry.

The pair were greeted with applause by guests as they attended a gala dinner at Windsor Castle, where their marriage will take place on 8 April. With a beaming smile and wearing a deep fuchsia Jean Muir evening gown, Camilla posed with Charles for photographs and proudly flashed her platinum engagement ring, which she was wearing for the first time. The ring - a royal family heirloom - has a squarecut central diamond with three diamond baguettes on either side.

" Thank you very much," Camilla said as she was congratulated. Asked how she was doing, she said: "All right - I'm just coming down to earth."

Mrs Parker Bowles was asked whether Charles got down on one knee to propose. Smiling broadly, she said: "Of course. What else?"

The Prince, wearing a bow tie and a Windsor jacket said: "I'm very happy." News of their marriage ended years of speculation

over their relationship. Mrs Parker Bowles will finally become a member of the royal family, known as Her Royal Highness but not Queen Camilla.

Following the wedding, a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle, she will become the Duchess of Cornwall. When Charles eventually accedes to the throne, she will take on the title of the first Princess Consor t . Clarence House had

intended to reveal the news next week but made the announcement yesterday morning after the story was broken by the Evening Standard.

The Queen met Tony Blair on Wednesday to seek his advice and subsequently gave her formal permission to her son to marry. She joined the Duke of Edinburgh and Princes William and Harry in congratulating the couple.

The civil ceremony for mainly family and friends will be followed by a blessing with the Archbishop of Canterbury in St George's Chapel.

The announcement of their engagement comes nearly nine years after Charles divorced Diana, Princess of Wales and more than seven years after she was killed in a car crash in Paris.

The Archbishop was involved in the delicate negotiations about how Charles should marry divorcee Camilla.

There has been some public opposition-to Camilla becoming Queen when Charles succeeds to the throne. A YouGov survey in the Daily Telegraph today reveals that just seven per cent of people thought she should become Queen.

Almost half (47 per cent) thought she should have no title at all, while 40 per cent said she should become Princess Consort.

About seven out of 10 people registered opposition to the marriage in two snap polls for Teletext and ITV1's This Morning conducted yesterday.

However, Prince Charles was said to be in "marvellous spirits" following the announcement.

"Mrs Parker Bowles and I are absolutely delighted. It will be a very special day for us and our families," he said in a statement.

The newlyweds will spend their honeymoon at Birkhall, with the Prince taking between a week and 10 days off at the Scottish retreat.