The Bishop of Oxford today called for compassion for the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

The Rt Rev Richard Harries said the couple obviously had a deep friendship and deserved more sympathy.

He said on BBC Radio Four today: "We would be wrong to push them into a marriage for which they feel they may not be ready. A great number of people will have a fellow feeling with them, and the fact they can get support from one another deserves compassion and understanding.

" Many people in our society are in a similar position to theirs.

"They have been through a traumatic divorce and if a new relationship begins, we should try to offer some understanding. "The Church of England's discipline applies to the Royal family the same as everyone else - the highest in the land and the lowest in the land.

"If your friends or children are in that situation you first of all give them some respect and some space as they try to work out their relationship.

"I don't think vicars in the diocese of Oxford will take my remarks amiss because week by week they are trying to offer support to people in similar situations."

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