Gay wedding row at Queen Mother's castle

TRUSTEES of the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's former Scottish home, are at the centre of a row after insisting only religious marriages will be permitted on the property, pulling up the drawbridge to civil ceremonies or gay partnerships.

Management thought they could earn extra funds during the quiet winter months by promoting the late Queen Mother's beloved castle as "Scotland's latest romantic wedding venue".

But the move has led to gay groups alleging discrimination and insisting the venue should be open to all.

Under the plans, couples seeking a religious wedding can apply to have it in the surroundings of the castle, in Caithness.

An advert on the castle's website, posted last Friday, said: "Brides and grooms who are looking for a romantic wedding venue with a difference can now hold their special ceremony in the visitor centre at the Castle and Gardens of Mey between October and April. Marriage services will be conducted by a minister or priest with seating for up to 60 guests."

The decision to restrict the use of the castle, initially, to couples seeking a religious wedding was made by the board of trustees. Yet the president of the trust is Prince Charles, whose second marriage, to Camilla Parker Bowles, was a civil marriage.

Yesterday, the gay rights group Outrage called the decision not to hold civil ceremonies "ridiculous" given the Queen Mother's association with gay people. A number of her staff were gay.

Christina Stokes, communications officer at Stonewall Scotland, said: "It is illegal for a venue to allow weddings and yet turn away couples who want a civil partnership. If you open your premises to the public, it must mean all of the public."

Under Scottish law, a marriage can take place at the castle if performed by a religious figure who already holds a licence.

However, if a couple wished to have a civil marriage at the castle, the trustees would have to apply for a licence from their local council. The trustees have decided not to do so, initially. But the castle need not apply for any licence for a gay civil partnership as the couple themselves have to do so.

Last night, James Murray, the castle's managing director, explained the trustees' decision. He said: "They took the decision that if people want to get married here that would be absolutely fine, but they would like them to have a religious ceremony.

"They did not want civil ceremonies here and therefore there was no need to apply for a civil licence. That was as far as the discussion went. They did not get into the discussion of gay partnerships."

Asked about claims of discrimination, he said: "I think the trust is perfectly entitled to say that if you want to get married here that is wonderful, but we would like it to be a religious ceremony. I don't think it is discrimination, no."

When asked if a gay couple wanting a civil partnership at the castle would be refused, Mr Murray said: "No – the answer would be that I would have to put it to the trustees. The question has not been asked or discussed."

Viscount Thurso, the Liberal Democrat MP, who is on the board of trustees, insisted the question of gay or civil partnerships had not come up and that the board was keen to start the wedding business off small and then eventually to expand.

He said: "I can categorically state that we have never, ever discussed the issue of gay or civil partnerships and, if we had, I would have said precisely what I said to you, which is I'm utterly relaxed about it in principle."

The castle's press spokeswoman later e-mailed The Scotsman, explaining: "We will look at every application we receive and if it fits in with our availability, we will approve it. As a matter of policy, the trust does not discriminate as to creed, colour, gender or sexual orientation."