They don't, as it turns out - Charles gets no stipend from public funds, relying on the income from the estate of the Duchy of Cornwall, which last year was about 12 million pounds, of which he paid 4.7 million in taxes (from last week's news stories on the investigation of the management of the estate, which is alleged to have included some jiggery-pokery).

One can start talking about how the Crown came to own the estate in the first place, but that would take us some 8 centuries back. The fact is, whether he gets married or not, in a registry office or a full blown state wedding etc, should not affect public funds.

I said "should..." - let's wait and see.

I'm no fan of Charlie's, but let's be fair.