Royal wedding gets Scots approval

The couple will marry at Windsor Castle on 8 April

Leading politicians and church figures in Scotland have congratulated Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles on news of their wedding plans.

Jack McConnell publicly congratulated the couple on the announcement of the 8 April wedding during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood on Thursday.

His comments received the support of opposition parties in the parliament.

Scotland's churches also offered their best wishes to the pair, who will marry at Windsor Castle.

The announcement ends years of speculation about the couple, who met in the 70s.

While some Anglicans remain opposed to the remarriage of divorcees, the Archbishop of Canterbury has given the couple his backing.

The marriage would have no constitutional implications for the Church of Scotland, as the monarch is not head of the Kirk.

The church promotes marriage and rejoices with people who enter into marriage Church of Scotland spokesman

Mr McConnell said: "I hope all members will wish to join me in congratulating his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles on the announcement of their wedding in April.

"We certainly look forward to continuing our work with them, both as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when they are in Scotland, in the years to come."

Scottish National Party Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "Can I echo the first minister's comments."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling wished the prince and Mrs Parker Bowles many happy years of marriage.

He said: "I'm sure they will be very happy. They've obviously known and loved each other for a long time and I'm sure many people will wish them many happy years in the future.

Constitutional change

"I think most people in this day and age will take a mature view. These are people who are clearly very fond of each other and are very happy - and why shouldn't they be."

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: "The church promotes marriage and rejoices with people who enter into marriage."

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland congratulated the pair but said it was also time to look at constitutional change.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien said: "As the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, I am saddened to think that were Mrs Parker Bowles a Catholic, the Prince of Wales would by marrying her, automatically lose his right to accede to the throne ­ as would his heirs.

"As the Scottish Executive currently, is quite rightly focusing attention on eradicating the blight of sectarianism in, the time may be opportune to assess the impact of existing blatant anti-Catholic legislation and the extent to which its existence hinders progress in this effort."