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A Church of England bishop has apologised for saying he believes Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage would only last for seven years.
The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, admitted his comments, posted on Facebook, were "deeply offensive".
He said he has passed on his "sincere regrets" to the Prince of Wales and the newly-engaged couple for any "distress" he has caused.
The offending comments contained reference to the Royal Family as "philanderers".
He also described the media furore surrounding the wedding as "nauseating tosh", likening the Prince and his fiancee to "shallow celebrities".
On the day of the royal wedding announcement the bishop also made derogatory comments on Twitter.
His post read: "Need to work out what date in the spring or summer I should be booking my republican day trip to France..."
But in the statement offering his apology, he said: "I recognise that the tone of my language and the content of what I said were deeply offensive, and I apologise unreservedly for the hurt caused.
"It was unwise of me to engage in a debate with others on a semi-public internet forum and to express myself in such language.
"I wish Prince William and Kate Middleton a happy and lifelong marriage, and will hold them in my prayers."
A spokeswoman for Clarence House said they would not be commenting on the bishop's apology.
But Tory MP and friend of Prince Charles, Nicholas Soames, condemned his comments saying they were "extremely rude" and "not what one expects from a bishop".
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, also criticised the bishop.
"It is extraordinary that a bishop of the Church of England should be a republican, given that Prince William - when he ascends the throne - will be his future boss."
The comments sparked a new Facebook group calling for the bishop to resign.
However, a Church of England spokesperson said: "He's a bishop, he's an individual, he's got his own views."
A source close to the clergyman also pointed out that: "The bishop had actually written he didn't think the marriage would last more than seven years because of harassment by the press, but I imagine the full quote was not printed."
The Rt Rev Broadbent's apology was issued a day before the Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, formally opens the General Synod, the Church's national assembly, in London.
SKYNEWS
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