Best wishes to Charles and Camilla

MEDIA RELEASE; 11 February 2005

"The Republican Movement would like to offer their best wishes to Charles and Camilla after their wedding announcement. It is good that they are able to follow their hearts," said Republican Movement president, Dave Guerin.

The marriage has been held up for many years while the Church of England considered their concerns about divorcees remarrying. This mattered because if Charles becomes King of the UK, he will also become the head of the Church of England. Charles' marriage has no constitutional implications in New Zealand - unless he'd chosen to marry a Catholic, in which case he couldn't have become our King (under the Act of Settlement 1701)!

"The silly aspect of all this is that Charles personal choices have been constrained for so long. It is just one more example of the arcane laws surrounding the monarchy."

"It would be better for the Windsor family, and New Zealand, if we simply chose our head of state in a democratic matter on the basis of merit."