Why the long face, Camilla?

Prince Charles is controversially set to finally marry Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor on Friday 8 April.

A day later, the world-famous National will be staged at Aintree Racecourse.

And bookies, who were hit by the win of Party Politics after a General Election in 1992, fear punters will plunge on horses with names such as Clan Royal.

Other contenders include Royal Auclair, and even It Takes Time, after the Prince of Wales had to wait years before the marriage could go ahead.

Bookmakers William Hill expect a bumper turnover because of the timing.

Hills spokeswoman Jennie Prest said: "We live in fear of this sort of coincidence and history is against us.

ROYAL RUNNERS Clan Royal 11-1 Royal Auclair 25-1 Be My Royal 50-1 Royal Atalza 66-1 Alternatives: King on the Run, A Piece of Cake, Be My Better Half *Note: Only the 40 top-weighted eligible horses at the head of the race's handicap system will run All the National entries What the weights mean

"Party Politics sparked a gamble winning the Grand National in the election year of 1992.

"But the bookies were cleaned out the day Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips and the race to celebrate their wedding at Windsor - the Windsor Royal Wedding Handicap Chase - was won by a horse called Royal Mark.

"It is sure to cause a frenzy of bets on appropriate National names and turnover will definitely top the �200 million mark for the day!"

Hills offer 20-1 that Prince Charles gives Mrs Parker Bowles a racehorse as a wedding present.

Ladbrokes quote a special price of 10-1 that a horse with 'Royal' in its name wins the Aintree marathon.

There are four such contenders among the initial entries, but not all are certain to run as a maximum field of 40 will line up on the day.

Clan Royal was an unlucky second in the 2004 race, and was already well-backed for this year's contest.

"With Clan Royal heading the market, the nation could be set for a princely pay-out," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.