Camilla Parker Bowles, who will marry Prince Charles next month, will automatically become Queen when the Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne unless there is a change in the law, the British government confirmed Monday.

It is believed to be the first time the government has acknowledged this stance on the record, local media said.

Charles's office Clarence House previously announced Camilla would be known as the Duchess of Cornwall after her marriage and intends to take the title Princess Consort, not Queen, when the Prince accedes the throne.

But a Department for Constitutional Affairs spokeswoman confirmed Monday that legislation would be needed for Camilla not to become Queen automatically on Charles's succession, no matter what Camilla wished to call herself.

Earlier Monday, Labor lawmaker Andrew McKinlay accused the Prince of Wales of being "less than frank with the country" over his marriage to Camilla.

He said legislation would be needed in 17 parliaments around the world, where the British monarch is head of state, for the change to be made.

"Prince Charles has been less than frank with the country - he knows that it was established in 1936 that the King's spouse automatically becomes Queen unless there is a law passed to the contrary," he told BBC Radio 4.

"I think he (Prince Charles) is deliberately holding this wedding under the smokescreen of a General Election," McKinlay added.

The 56-year-old heir to the throne divorced late Princess Diana in 1996. She died in a car accident in the following year.

The Prince has in recent years given Camilla, 57, a more prominent public role, frequently taking her to official engagements. They first met at a polo match in Windsor in 1970.

Their wedding marks a watershed in public and private opinion to their relationship. Last year the Church of England said it would not oppose their marriage.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2005)