Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles costumes are not a popular line in party wear 15822/6PEOPLE in North Wiltshire have turned their backs on the jinxed royal wedding and would rather watch the Grand National than the heir to the throne tie the knot.

Prince Charles, 56, and fiance Camilla Parker Bowles, 57, have suffered a string of setbacks that have tainted their special day.

But residents in the county just don't seem to care.

The Gazette asked around 50 people on the streets what they thought about the plagued wedding plans, but only seven offered an opinion at all.

The majority of folk said they couldn't care less. One lady laughed: "I wish they would go to the other side of the world and stay there."

Others were fans of Princess Diana and said the couple were selfish and should have married years ago to curb the adultery and heartbreak.

Many said they definitely would not be watching the televised exchange of vows some didn't even know it would be broadcast.

Mrs Parker Bowles, of Reybridge near Lacock, will take the title HRH Duchess of Cornwall if the wedding on Saturday goes ahead without a final hitch.

Most recently the couple have been forced to postpone their marriage for 24 hours to enable the prince to attend Pope John Paul's funeral as the representative of his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Because of the late change of plans the wedding was squeezed in before three other couples marrying at the Guildhall in Windsor on Saturday, and will begin at 12.30pm.

Town centre pubs in Chippenham have no plans to show the wedding on the big screen and don't think it will make the slightest bit of difference to business.

Despite the time of the Grand National being changed from 3.45pm to 4.10pm so the blessing can be broadcast many of the pubs still said they will favour the world famous race.

Michelle Thomas Mews, manager of the Sir Audley Arms, said: "We won't be showing the wedding," she said. "We are more of a sporting pub and will have the racing on. The customers aren't fans of the Royal family. I'll ask them if they want to watch it, but I think I know what they will say."

A wedding will also have a local flavour with a dress from

Rubenesque fashion shop in Bath Road, Devizes to be worn by one of the guests.

Shop proprietor Christine Cooper said she could not divulge the name of her customer, just that she will be sitting on the bride's side at Saturday's ceremony and would be wearing a navy blue straight style drape necked dress with long sleeves and a silk scarf in progressively lighter shades of blue.

Leon McKinlay of the Giant Party Shop, on the Bridge in Chippenham said the Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles costumes aren't all that popular and they haven't sold one in a while.

And he said he didn't think the royal wedding would make a difference to sales.

He added: "The whole thing is a farce."