Top aide sees months of planning fall apart

Prince Charles's most trusted aide is under huge pressure today as the royal wedding plans descend into a farce.

Sir Michael Peat stands accused of extraordinary mismanagement after the Queen decided not to attend the civil ceremony planned for the marriage of Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.

Less than two weeks after the Standard exclusively revealed the wedding plans Sir Michael, charged with smoothly bringing about the controversial union, has seen his carefully laid plans unravel with alarming speed.

A royal source privately described Sir Michael's position as "most uncomfortable" and said he is being held responsible for the debacle.

Serious planning for the marriage - after more than two years of bringing Camilla into the public eye - began months ago after a summit held by the Queen with key advisers at Balmoral concluded that Charles had to resolve the "Camilla situation" or face a constitutional crisis on his mother's death.

The man responsible for bringing the wedding about was Sir Michael.

Appointed two and a half years ago as Prince Charles's private secretary and principal adviser, he had arrived with a reputation as a cost-cutter after finding savings in his previous role as head of the Queen's finances. His success at streamlining the royal household had, however, made him the most hated man at the Palace.

Enemies say he has a mind like a calculator, a charm that conceals a ruthless nature and a tongue that can turn suddenly from oily to fiery.

On a wage of ?120,000, he was expected to usher in a new era in the management of the Prince of Wales's affairs.

However, his careful moves to give Camilla an ever greater role were almost derailed in November when it emerged she was not to be seated next to Charles at the wedding of the Prince's godson, Edward van Cutsem, and Lady Tamara Grosvenor.

First Camilla then Charles refused to attend at all and in response Sir Michael increased further his manoeuvring for their wedding. Sir Michael, who lives in a grace and favour apartment at Kensington Palace, took over from Mark Bolland, who had been credited with the "rehabilitation" of Charles and Camilla following Princess Diana's death.

A series of bitter rows between the aides saw Bolland resign.