A senior Church of England bishop said yesterday that he "saw no reason" why Prince Charles should not become head of the church if he married Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev Michael Turnbull, said that it would be "more desirable morally" for the pair to marry, than to remain in their current situation.
It is the first time one of the most senior figures in the Church has said it could be argued that Prince Charles should remarry, and in doing so, retain the moral authority to lead the Church when he became king.
Before the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, warned that marriage between Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles would plunge the Church into "crisis". But following her death last year the attitude of Church leaders appears to have softened.
The Bishop of Durham gave his views following reports that the Prince of Wales's present relationship with Mrs Parker Bowles appeared to be gaining acceptance among higher ranks in the Church.
Bishop Turnbull said: "The Prince of Wales is, sadly, now a widower and he is free to re-marry.
"As I understand it there is no reason to prevent Prince Charles from becoming monarch should he remarry." "If he is to become monarch he would also become head of the Church of England.
"That is the constitutional position," the bishop added.