First guest, it may be that you've misjudged the popular mood. Constitutional historian (and incidentally now the highest paid presenter on British TV) Dr David Starkey was quoted by the BBC as explaining the queen's decision thus: "It could be security, that she doesn't approve, or that she doesn't care - a position which would unite her with the majority of her subjects."

It may yet be that there will have to be an amendment to existing legislation for this marriage to proceed. UK statute law governing marriage prohibits Royals from civil weddings, and a former attorney general, Sir Nicholas Lyell, believes the queen has been badly advised by ministers on this point. The law was substantially amended in 1949 and the present lord chancellor believes this ended the constraint on royals. Yet the 1949 act apparently states specifically that its provisions do not apply to royals. The chancellor is expected to make a statement to parliament about this sometime today (Wed).