ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512210109
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LONDON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Queen Elizabeth II, apparently worried that the public battle and private anguish of Prince Charles and Princess Diana will drag on even longer, has urged them to get a divorce - and soon.
Buckingham Palace said the prince indicated that he agreed, but that Diana's response was not known.
The princess met earlier in the day with Prime Minister John Major at her apartments in Kensington Palace, but neither of their offices would reveal what was discussed.
The anger, tears and infidelities in the marriage saga have transfixed the country and fascinated the world
During her television interview a month ago, in which she admitted being unfaithful to the prince, Diana said she did not want a divorce, indicating that concern for her children was the main reason.
She then neatly hit the ball into Charles' court, saying, ``I await my husband's decision of which way we are all going to go.''
The queen, who cannot have been pleased to hear Diana suggest during the interview that the heir to the throne was unfit to be king, has seized the initiative.
A Buckingham Palace official said Wednesday night that the queen wrote Diana letters ``earlier this week and gave them her view, supported by the Duke of Edinburgh, that an early divorce is desirable.
``The Prince of Wales also takes this view and has made this known to the Princess of Wales since the letter,'' he said.
The queen and Prince Philip would do all they could to support Charles and Diana, ``and most particularly their children, in this difficult period,'' he said.
There was no indication how soon a divorce could take place , he said.
Charles and Diana separated in 1992. After two years' separation, they became eligible for a no-fault divorce under British law.
Constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor said a divorce would have no constitutional implications
A Church of England official, the Rev. Eric Shegog, said the church did not view divorce as an obstacle to Charles becoming king.
The couple separated six months after publication of a book by Andrew Morton that said Diana was desperately unhappy in the marriage and believed Charles had a long-term affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Parker Bowles and her husband, Andrew - both old friends of Prince Charles - have divorced. She has begun to appear at events attended by Prince Charles.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. The July 29, 1981, marriage of Prince Charles andby CNBDiana, Princess of Wales, captured the world's fancy. Now, Queen
Elizabeth is urging the royal couple to get a divorce and shut off
the public spotlight that is highlighting their separation.