Nicholas Witchell: Rare appearence by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

Prince Charles and his companion attended a society wedding in London together but arrived apart.

Then in the evening the prince went to the same film premiere as Camilla's children but again kept his distance.

Santa's day was overshadowed by the arrival of her famous guests

After the wedding Prince Charles attended the UK premiere of Primary Colours, where he met his old friend Emma Thompson.

The Prince greeted her with a kiss on both cheeks and chatted about his tentative foray into acting at his 50th birthday gala on Wednesday.

Charity premiere

Ms Thompson stars as the wife of a prospective US President (John Travolta) in the film and she encouraged the Prince to go to the premiere, which raised £50,000 for the Prince's Trust and the Alone in London homeless charity.

The event, at the Empire in London's Leicester Square, was also attended by Camilla Parker Bowles's two children, Tom and Laura. But they arrived separately from the prince.

Earlier Charles and Camilla - who are rarely seen in public together despite press speculation about their blossoming relationship - attended the wedding of Santa Palmer-Tomkinson and writer Simon Sebag-Montefiore.

Camilla Parker Bowles: Arrived 20 minutes before Prince Charles

The couple married in the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London.

The Prince of Wales arrived 20 minutes after Camilla with Prince Harry and Zara Phillips.

Among the celebrity guests attending the wedding were Tiggy Legge-Bourke, Sir David Frost, Koo Stark and TV presenter Tanya Bryer.

Family friend

The prince has known Santa, 28, since she was a child. She is the daughter of his skiing companions Charles and Patty Palmer-Tomkinson.

Her bridal gown was designed by Catherine Walker, who was one of Diana, Princess of Wales's favourite dress designers.

The Sebag-Montefiores are among the oldest Jewish families in Britain and made their fortune in business with the Rothschilds during the 19th Century.