Wiltshire has been at the centre of the royal romance between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles for more than three decades.

On Thursday police guarded Mrs Parker Bowles' home at Reybridge, near Lacock, as the couple's plans to marry were revealed to the world.

Following a love that has spanned three decades, the pair both divorcees will finally marry in a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle followed by a blessing at St George's Chapel.

But the Wiltshire influence started back in July 1973 when newly weds Andrew and Camilla Parker Bowles left their glitzy ceremony in London for their new home Tudor mansion Bolehyde Manor near Chippenham.

And so began Mrs Parker Bowles' 30-year love of Wiltshire.

It is thought the couple were lured to the county by their passion for country pursuits and the fact that Mrs Parker Bowles' parents owned a home in nearby Reybridge.

The couple had two children, Tom, born in 1974 and Laura, who is five years younger. They both grew up in the county although neither went to school here.

It is believed to have been in the property's vegetable garden that Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana.

In 1980, when Prince Charles decided to buy himself a house in the country, it is understood he chose the Highgrove estate because of its close proximity to Mrs Parker Bowles.

The Royal couple attended the Parker Bowles' housewarming party when they moved from Bolehyde to Middlewick House at Pickwick, near Corsham, in 1986.

Mr and Mrs Parker Bowles remained at Middlewick House until they divorced in 1995 and the house was sold to former Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.

Mr Parker Bowles married Virginia Pitman just a year later and is thought to have moved to Malmesbury.

Camilla Parker Bowles bought Raymill House the large property next door to her parents in Reybridge, near Lacock.

She is a trustee of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, which tours the county helping make elderly and vulnerable people feel safer. She attended the Marlborough 800 celebrations with the Prince last summer in this role.

Mrs Parker Bowles has been a regular rider with the Beaufort Hunt for many years.

She was a well-known face around Corsham when she lived near the town. Sue Unwin, who worked at a newsagent in the Corsham precinct said Camilla would often pop in.

But things weren't so rosy when her affair with Prince Charles became public knowledge.

On one shopping trip to Sainsbury's in Chippenham in 1993 she was pelted with bread rolls by Diana fans.

Robert Hiscox, chairman of the Bobby Van Trust, of which Mrs Parker Bowles has been a trustee for many years, said he and his colleagues were delighted by the news of the wedding.

He said: "As a trustee Mrs Parker Bowles has been very helpful indeed and, through her, the Prince has also shown great interest.

"When he visited Marlborough for the town's charter celebrations last year, he visited the Bobby Van in the High Street.

"It was a great boost to our morale and also our coffers because he gave us a dinner at Highgrove as a fundraiser."