Charles and Camilla in public

Also in the book will be a painstaking account of the breakdown of Charles’ 15-year marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, and speculation of what role Parker Bowles could play in the life of the heir to the British throne.

The emergence of the affair in the 1990s led the British public to blame Charles for the break-up of the royal marriage, Diana’s eating disorders and apparent low self-esteem.

Parker Bowles, 50, who herself was married during her affair with Charles, was almost universally vilified as the “other woman” and criticised for having little of Diana’s perceived glamour or grace.

Since Diana’sdeath in a Paris car crash on August 31 last year, Charles and Parker Bowles have been careful not to be pictured together for fear of the public reaction that might follow. But Charles is known to be keen to gain some public acceptance of Parker Bowles and their relationship.

In December, they rode in the same fox-hunt and last week reports said Queen Elizabeth II had agreed to let Charles parade Parker Bowles at a royal and showbiz-studded banquet for his 50th birthday. Reports this week said Parker Bowles had hosted a reception with Charles at the royal residence at Sandringham in eastern England.

Meanwhile, Charles and his two sons will stay at Whistler, this ski resort next week as guests of former Irish model Hilary Weston and her husband Galen, who frequently plays polo with the heir to the British throne.Galen Weston controls the Holt Renfrew and Loblaws retail chains in Canada while his wife is Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

The Lieutenant Governor is the personal representative of QueenElizabeth II as head of state in the province.

Larry Kent, a spokesman for George Weston Ltd. in Ontario, the holding company for Galen Weston’s retail activities, confirmed that Charles and his sons, William and Harry, would be guests of the Westons in Whistler.

But he would not say where the princes would be staying. According to local reports, the Westons do not have any property in the Whistler ski resort although they do have friends with private accommodation there.

Kent said one of the main reasons for choosing Whistler was the prospect of privacy for William, 15, and Harry, 13.

Nevertheless, Kent suggested there would be no special security for the princes during their holiday in Whistler, in British Columbia.

He said Prince Charles did not want any special treatment. “He doesn’t want to upset the community,” said Kent. “He just wants to enjoy his holiday like any father of two teen sons.”

Buckingham Palace has asked the media to be discrete in its coverage of the princes. It isexpected there will be photo opportunities; apart from that photographers and reporters are being asked to respect the privacy of the young princes.