Camilla shows off engagement ring

LONDON - Camilla Parker Bowles has shown off her diamond engagement ring and posed for pictures with Prince Charles at a Windsor Castle reception, the couple's first appearance together since announcing they would marry.

Aware of public misgivings over his lover, Charles ruled out Camilla -- the woman blamed for destroying his "fairytale" marriage to the late Princess Diana -- becoming queen once he assumes the throne.

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

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.

The couple will honeymoon in Scotland, where Prince Charles also honeymooned with his previous wife Princess Diana.

Every summer the Queen and other senior royals head north to Balmoral Castle, her scenic Aberdeenshire retreat, for traditional country pursuits like fishing and shooting.

"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 showed off her platinum ring with a square-cut central diamond and three diamond baguettes on either side. She thanked guests who had gathered in the splendour 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.

"ROTTWEILER"

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".

Parker Bowles is the love of Charles' life -- the pair met over 30 years ago at a polo match and share a passion for country pursuits -- but she has faced an uphill struggle to rival his former wife in the public's affection.

"They decided now is the right time. They have known each other for quite a long time and the possibility of marriage has always been there," said a senior royal aide.

Legend has it that in the early days, Camilla flirtatiously reminded Charles her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel, was long-standing mistress to a previous Prince of Wales who became King Edward VII -- Charles' great-great-grandfather. She then apparently said: "So how about it?"

Once Charles succeeds his 78-year-old mother, he will be titular head of the Church of England, which had been bitterly divided over the prospect of Charles marrying a divorcee.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who heads the world's Anglicans, will preside over "a service of prayer and dedication" after the civil ceremony.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who famously mourned "People's Princess" Diana after her death in a 1997 Paris car crash, welcomed Charles's marriage as "very happy news".

Charles and Camilla had a two-year love affair after first meeting in their 20s; Camilla then married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles, divorcing him in 1995.

Charles admitted in 1994 that he and Camilla had resumed their affair after his marriage had irretrievably broken down.

Diana memorably said on national television "there were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit crowded", while he was secretly taped sharing intimate pillow talk with his lover.

BRITONS INDIFFERENT TO WEDDING

For years Britain's royal family, fearful of a public backlash, agonised about the effect of a marriage between heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles.

But it appears they need not have worried.

On the streets of London, Thursday's announcement the couple were to wed was greeted with indifference.

"I don't really care about it, it's his life," said businessman Andy Easman, 37.

"We all knew about the relationship."

Most Britons and tourists wandering around Queen Elizabeth's London residence Buckingham Palace wished the couple well.

However there was little sign of the euphoria that gripped the nation in 1981 when Charles announced his engagement to his first wife, the late Princess Diana.

Although the overall sentiment was backing for Charles on a personal level, many felt it would have an impact on the monarchy as an institution.

"I'm a republican so I enjoy seeing any nail going into their coffin. I think that will be another one," said 55-year-old office administrator Carol Hadley.

And despite the royal family's attempts to ease Camilla into the affections of the public, the memory of the hugely popular Princess Diana is likely to cast a shadow over the wedding.

"I'm a Christian so I believe he should have worked out his marriage with Diana," said housewife Juliette Sellows, 40.

"As the head of the Church of England he's been a bad example."

AFP reported that the royal wedding fever had already hit Britain's famous horse race the Grand National, due to take place the day after their marriage. The four horses that contain the word royal have been given odds of 10/1 to win.

The British public had also began beating on other royal related topics including what colour outfit Parker Bowles will wear.

- REUTERS