The Great Chain of Being vs The European Convention on Human Rights

Or perhaps, "Bow down before the one you serve."

Fascinating stuff in this NYT article.

Charles and Parker Bowles plan to wed April 8 in a civil ceremony in Windsor. It is unprecedented for an heir to the throne to marry outside of a church, but it is believed necessary because the Church of England has qualms about remarriage for divorcees.

Eleven people submitted caveats, or objections, to the registrar general. Some argued that the Marriage Act of 1949, which authorized civil marriages, excluded the royals because it said ``nothing in this Act shall affect any law or custom relating to the marriage of members of the royal family.''

Registrar General Len Cook disagreed.

``A reading of the 1949 act which prevented the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Parker Bowles from contracting a civil marriage would interfere with their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights,'' Cook said.