Public 'has right to be at Charles wedding'

Arrangements for the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles were plunged into chaos today after claims that members of the public will have the right to attend the ceremony.

The confusion surrounding the wedding deepened when it emerged that ceremonies held in approved civil venues must be "solemnised in premises with open doors".

That could raise security dangers for the royal family and the royal protection squad has now found itself at loggerheads with lawyers over the arrangements.

The prince has already been forced to abandon plans to marry Mrs Parker Bowles at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after aides realised applying for a licence would have allowed members of the public to use the venue for marriages.

The ceremony - planned for 8 April - was subsequently moved to the town's Guildhall, but there are now fresh questions about the legality of barring the public from the wedding.

One former registrar said: "This could be a real problem. The law is the law and is very clear in this case. There is no ambiguity about it whatsoever." For their part the royal family's protection squad, SO14, are adamant that no member of the public will be allowed near any of the guests and that the venue will be treated as a secure area.

A source close to the squad said: "There is no way the public will be allowed anywhere near Prince Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family."

A Clarence House spokesman said officials are "looking into the issue".

The latest development follows claims that royals are explicitly barred from marrying anywhere except in church under a section of the 1836 Marriage Act.