Prince William to be witness at Royal wedding

PRINCE WILLIAM and Tom Parker Bowles will act as witnesses to the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, it emerged yesterday.

It was revealed that Prince Charles's siblings, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, would be attending the civil ceremony. Queen Elizabeth will not be present at the civil wedding in the Guildhall, Windsor.

The ceremony, on April 8 is expected to last just 20 minutes.

William and Harry and Camilla's son Tom will also be joined at the wedding by Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand and her daughter Laura Parker Bowles.

Prince Edward's wife Sophie and Princess Anne's husband Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence will also be among the guests.

A preliminary meeting will take place ahead of the ceremony in the Guildhall's Ascot Room during which the Registrar will confirm the bride and groom's details.

Prince Charles and Ms Parker Bowles will arrive together and leave the Guildhall by car from Windsor Castle.

They will be driven in a 1962 Rolls Royce Phantom V previously used by the Queen Mother.

Asked whether Prince William was happy to be performing the role of witness, a spokesman for the prince said: "Very much so."

Eton and Oxford-educated Tom Parker Bowles the son of Camilla and first husband Andrew Parker Bowles is Charles's godson.

He found himself at the centre of a media storm in 1999 after he was alleged to have admitted taking cocaine.

The prince reportedly telephoned him to read him the riot act.

Following the death of Princess Diana, Tom is thought to have become close to the teenage Prince William.

The revelation finally that some senior members of the royal family will be present to watch Prince Charles marry Camilla is likely to be welcome news to the couple after the previous announcement that the Queen and Prince Phillip would not be there.