May 17, 2008, 21:53 GMT
London - The first wedding of a grandchild of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was overshadowed Saturday by criticism over the royal couple's decision to sell the story of their relationship exclusively to Hello magazine.
HRH Princess Anne the Princess Royal EPA/Chris Jackson / Pool
Peter Phillips, 30, only son of Princess Anne and her first husband Mark Phillips, and his Canadian fiancee Autumn Kelly, also 30, reportedly sold the rights to Hello for 500,000 pounds (1 million dollars), according to British press reports.
The fact that Phillips is profiting from his marriage has been described in the press as 'tasteless.'
The Daily Mail reported that the royal court was concerned that the queen's reputation could be tarnished by the move.
The couple are due to be married in Windsor Castle near London later Saturday, followed by a reception and dance in Frogmore House, also in Windsor.
Almost all the royal family were expected to attend the wedding, except Prince William, who was attending the wedding of an old girlfriend's brother in Kenya. William would be represented in Windsor by his current girlfriend, Kate Middleton.
William's brother Harry was expected at the wedding with his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, who was due to meet the queen for the first time.
Kelly, a management consultant from Montreal, had to renounce her Catholic faith and join the Church of England so that Phillips could retain his 11th place in line to the British throne.
Since anti-Catholic legislation was introduced in Britain in 1701, heirs to the throne must relinquish their position in the line of succession if they become Catholic or marry a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
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