Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles make their first public appearance together since they announced their wedding engagement, during a function at Windsor Castle near London February 10, 2005.

British heir to the throne Prince Charles said on Thursday he will marry long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman blamed for destroying his "fairytale" marriage to the late Princess Diana.

Aware of public misgivings over his lover, Charles ruled out Camilla becoming queen once he assumes the throne.

His mother Queen Elizabeth, who had been slow to accept the divorced mother of two, wished the pair well for their April 8 wedding in Windsor Castle, west of London.

The couple -- lovers during Charles' tumultuous marriage to Diana -- plan a quiet, civil ceremony, in sharp contrast to the dazzling church wedding to Diana, which was beamed worldwide from London's St. Paul's Cathedral.

A beaming Camilla showed off her diamond engagement ring and posed for pictures with Charles at a Windsor Castle reception as the couple appeared together for the first time since the announcement.

"I am just coming down to earth," said Camilla, who confirmed Charles had followed tradition by going down on one knee to propose.

Wearing a pink gown and string of pearls, she thanked guests who had gathered in the splendor of the castle's gilt-lined Grand Reception Room. Charles, wearing a black bow tie and dinner jacket with red collar and cuffs, said only: "I am very happy."

Camilla, 57, will take the official title of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall after marriage. Once Charles becomes king, his wife will be called Princess Consort, not queen.

Charles, 56, was divorced in 1996 from Diana, who blamed "rottweiler" Parker Bowles and the prying media for the break-up of what had promised to be a dream union.

Charles' sons William and Harry, next in line to the throne, wished the couple "all the luck in the future."
 

(Agencies)

heir: a person who succeeds or is in line to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office（繼承人）

misgivings: a feeling of doubt, distrust, or apprehension（疑慮）

rule out: to eliminate from consideration, exclude（排除）

down to earth: back to reality（實(shí)際的）

prying: offensively curious or inquisitive（愛打聽的）