Astrology and News
Charles and Camilla, happy third wedding anniversary!
Prince Charles and the former Camilla Parker-Bowles were married three years ago today, on April 9 2005. Which was a Saturday. I think they planned to get married the previous day, but it clashed with Pope John Paul II’s funeral. There’s an irony in there somewhere, but I can’t quite work it out. So unlike many marriages, it wasn’t planned for a Saturday. And really, I can’t understand why people get married on a Saturday. I know, it’s the weekend, and guests can make it without missing work. But of all the seven days of the week, Saturday is the least fortunate, because it’s ruled by Saturn. It might be the planet of duty and responsibility, but it’s also a malefic. And if everyone got married on Thursday instead, ruled by lucky Jupiter, I reckon divorce rates would be lower and birth rates would be higher.
Yet in terms of judging a horoscope, the day of the week is only one small factor. In the case of Charles and Camilla, they were married around 12.30 pm. The ascendant at this time was early Leo, at three or four degrees of the sign. In Charles’ own horoscope, the ascendant is five degrees Leo - so he had a close and personal astrological link with the timing of his second marriage. The ruler of the marriage ascendant is the Sun - which was at nineteen degree of Aries, its point of maximum exaltation. A fantastic signature, that must surely mark the beginning of a successful enterprise?
Unfortunately, the wedding chart has some negatives, and I wouldn’t have chosen this date to get married on. The Sun might be strong, but it’s moving towards a stressful aspect with Saturn. This is important, because Saturn rules Leo’s opposite sign of Aquarius. We can therefore say that the Sun is the Prince and Saturn is his bride - particularly as Saturn is connected with older people, and Camilla is over a year older than her husband. The Sun-Saturn aspect suggests some areas of friction, that could be exacerbated by the marriage itself. Being constantly in the spotlight mightn’t be to Camilla’s taste, while Charles might feel that his marriage restricts his freedom. There is also the problem that the Moon, in late Aries, was void of course - it had made its last aspect before leaving the sign. The question is perhaps not whether the marriage will last, but instead, where is it going?
If we compare Charles and Camilla’s horoscopes, we immediately notice that she’s a Cancer and he’s a Scorpio. This is a great combination, though its long-term success can’t be guaranteed. And let’s not forget that Charles’ previous wife, Princess Diana, was also a Cancerian. If we look at things a bit closer, we see that Charles’s Sun is at twenty-two degrees Scorpio, while Camilla’s Sun is at twenty-four degrees Cancer. So the two Suns are close to being a hundred and twenty degrees apart, which is one third of the circle. There’s an ease to their relationship, and perhaps also a mutual comfort in each other’s presence. Maybe we can say that they’re used to each other? But looking purely at the astrology, I think it unlikely that their relationship is compulsive.
And what about the future? Since October 2007 Charles has been experiencing his Saturn Return, and this goes on until July 2008. The Saturn Return happens every twenty-nine years or so, when Saturn returns to the place it was at birth. During Saturn Returns things often come to roost, and he’ll perhaps become aware of what he has and hasn’t achieved. Also, there might be existential issues. What is his role and function? How could he be making better use of his time? Such concerns could have an impact on his marriage.
I think, with the Saturn Return, that it would be a good idea for Charles to bring his ideas together, and also to do some writing and lecturing. But mental discipline is important, and he must make sure that he thinks everything through. And over the next couple of years he’ll be a Prince who can learn, but also a Prince who can teach. But can doesn’t mean will!