The Pillar Podcast Ep. 234: It’s not easy being the king of Canada
Oct 24, 2025
JD and Ed explore the complexities of King Charles III and Camilla's marriage, diving into canon law and the implications of previous unions. They discuss whether Diana's death affected Charles's ability to remarry and explore the historical tensions between English civil law and Church marriage law. Listeners learn about the nuances of consent in marriage and how external legal influences have shaped royal wedding rules. The lighthearted banter adds an entertaining touch to this deep dive into royal and religious intersections.
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Camilla's 1973 Catholic Wedding
- Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 in a public Catholic ceremony with likely dispensations.
- Their wedding was a major society event attended by senior royals, implying formal permissions were obtained.
Charles' Freedom Versus Camilla's Status
- Civilly Charles was free to marry in 2005 as a widower, so his personal freedom wasn't the obstacle.
- The real complexity centers on Camilla's prior canonical status and its unresolved nullity.
Church And State Entanglement
- English marriage law and Church of England practice are deeply entangled and sometimes contradictory.
- That overlap made Charles and Camilla's wedding legality a genuine constitutional and ecclesial question.
