There was wide agreement amongst the five guests that Charles should have the same rights as ordinary members of the public.

The debate came on the day that Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles made a rare public appearance together.

The couple were attending a celebrity wedding in London - but arrived separately and sat apart.

Rabbi Julia Neuberger, Chief executive of the King's Fund, said: "He should be entitled to live with and marry whom he chooses. The Church of England is going to have to come to terms with that."

And she said if Charles becomes King then Camilla should be Queen.

One audience member suggested the public would have trouble accepting Mrs Parker Bowles, out of loyalty to Princess Diana.

But Labour MP Diane Abbott said: "You have to look at them as people. They've been together now a very long time. They clearly genuinely love each other."

What do you think? Email us with your views

Do you agree with Liberal Democrat Menzies Campbell?

He said: "There's hardly a family in the country that doesn't have some member or other who's been through the divorce court. If it makes him happy and makes him a better candidate to be the king then this is certainly something he should be entitled to do."

Question Time was broadcast from Birmingham on Thursday 29 October. But you can still watch it in Real Video by clicking on Latest edition.

Other topics for discussion...the Jenkins Commission on electoral reform...the mystery surrounding the former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies...the visit to Britain of Argentine president Carlos Menem and the future of the Falklands....and the risks of recession in the UK.