They refer to Prince Charles's bride-to-be as Cowmilla, think Princess Diana was the best thing that ever happened to the monarchy, and would like to see the Diana memorial fountain in Hyde Park, which they regard as a "ditch," replaced by a more fitting memorial to a woman who they fear is in danger of being "airbrushed from history".
It is more than seven years since Diana died, but her growing band of worshippers, the Diana Circle, is very much alive and kicking. They would rather see Charles abdicate than realise his "master plan" of marrying Camilla Parker Bowles and having her accede to the position formerly occupied by their beloved princess.
Since Charles made public his plans to marry his long-term mistress - the circle has dubbed the day of the announcement, February 10, Black Thursday - hardly a week has passed without them writing to newspapers and politicians to air their pro-Diana views.
Last week, in an effort to show they are serious about disrupting Charles's plans for an Easter wedding to Mrs Parker Bowles, they wrote to the registrar general to lodge an official objection.
At least, it is reported they did. Despite suggestions that the registrar general could rule on their petition as early as today, members of the Diana Circle refused to comment, claiming newspapers had misrepresented their views and printed "a pack of lies" about them.
"They are portraying us as a clandestine, underground group, which goes against everything we stand for," said Alan Berry, 62, a Ministry of Defence official from Surrey who together with his wife, Joan, is one of the seven founder members of the group.
"The petition is a private matter. We are not confirming or denying anything."
There was no reference to the group's petition on the Diana Circle website either. However, on its homepage, decorated with a pink flower bearing the legend Keeping Her Memory Alive, the group said they were determined to use their "combined strength" to promote Diana's interests.
"The Diana Circle UK is non-political but believes Diana had a raw deal in life and also in death."
Another founder member, Josephine Dobson, who together with her husband Kenneth campaigns tirelessly for Diana's cause, was similarly guarded about the petition. "Charles should not be allowed to be king and that's all I'm saying," she told the Guardian.
According to yesterday's Sunday Express, if Charles is permitted to go ahead with the civil ceremony on April 8, Diana Circle members will place anti-wedding slogans on banners at Kensington Palace, alongside a giant poster of Diana in her wedding dress.
The paper pictured Mrs Berry holding a two-page letter the group had sent to the Queen criticising her for permitting the marriage to go ahead.
It read: "This is not a time for rejoicing but for sadness. If the marriage is allowed to proceed there is no doubt the monarchy will suffer damage and unpopularity never seen before ... how can you permit such a disservice and unpopular occasion to take place?"
According to the group's website, the Diana Circle was founded in August 2001 on the fourth anniversary of the princess's death, when members gathered at Kensington Palace to lay flowers and pay their respects.
In 2003, James Whittaker, the Daily Mirror's royal correspondent, gave the group a boost by publishing its email address. Since then the circle has expanded rapidly and now claims 1,000 members worldwide.
Judging by the circle's website, the group are far from craven monarchists. On the contrary, they argue that the monarchy is in desperate need of reform and could do worse than to take Diana as its model. "Diana's legacy included showing the world what compassion and selfless acts of charity can do to alter the staid, arrogant, privileged lifestyle of most of the royals," reads a declaration on its homepage.
In its latest newsletter, the group urges members to write to Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to publicly repudiate the marriage. "We will not relax until he replies personally and concisely as to where he stands."
Yesterday, Dr Williams's predecessor, Lord George Carey, urged people to "get behind" Charles and Camilla, telling GMTV's Sunday programme that the forthcoming nuptials were good for the monarchy and set an example for society at large. "I think it's good for the country because it's important that at the heart of the monarchy we have stable relationships," Lord Carey said.
However, his views are not shared by every member of the Anglican clergy. The registrar general has received nine objections to the proposed marriage, including one from the Rev Paul Williamson, an outspoken west London vicar who is threatening to disrupt the civil ceremony at Windsor if his complaint is not upheld.
If the registrar rules in his favour, Charles would have to apply to the high court for judicial review. The only thing that could prevent that would be if the government intervened by rushing through legislation.
Yesterday, a Downing Street spokesman refused to comment on reports that the Diana Circle had written to the prime minister and received a reply from his secretary saying that he would raise their objections personally with the Queen.
"We don't discuss private internal correspondence, but in relation to the royal marriage, Lord Falconer [the lord chancellor] has made it absolutely clear that he considers the marriage constitutional and that it has the government's full support."
Charles's nuptials are not the only bee in the Diana Circle's bonnet. Members want the £3m Diana fountain demolished and replaced with a statue to the princess.
"I have asked many friends what they think of the Princess Diana memorial fountain, and they all describe it as dreary, dismal or depressing - nothing like the princess, who was beautiful, vital and inspirational," Mrs Berry wrote to a newspaper recently.
