British Royal Marriages: Titles and Succession in the Monarchy

When a member of the British Royal Family gets married, there is a common belief that they need to give up their title or face certain legal and social restrictions. However, this is not the case. The rules and traditions surrounding royal marriages have evolved significantly over time, with only a few instances where sacrifices had to be made.

Times Have Changed

Most members of the British Royal Family do not have to give up their titles or any claims to the throne upon marriage. The British monarchy has a rich history, and the traditions surrounding royal marriages have changed over the years. Unlike the early days of the monarchy, modern royal brides do not have to relinquish their titles or social status.

For instance, King Edward VIII faced a unique situation when he decided to marry Wallis Simpson. Wallis Simpson was a divorcée, and for a British monarch, marrying a divorcée was against the law. As a result, Edward VIII had to renounce his throne to marry her. This is the only instance in modern British history where a monarch was forced to give up their crown for marriage.

Ancient Royal Marriages and Titles

For centuries, the marriage of British monarchs followed different customs and traditions. Let's take a look at some historical examples to understand how the rules have evolved:

King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII was crowned King before he ever tied the knot, and his wives' titles were often given up or altered after their marriages:

Katherine of Aragon: She was the Queen of Wales before remaining Queen of England and Ireland after the marriage to King Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn: She was Marquess of Pembroke before becoming Queen of England after her marriage to King Henry VIII. Jane Seymour: She followed Anne Boleyn and became Queen Jane after her marriage to King Henry VIII. Katherine Howard: Her title of the Dowager Lady Latimer became Queen Katherine after her marriage to King Henry VIII. Katherine Parr: She reverted to her previous title of the Dowager Lady Latimer and was later known as "the Queen" after her marriage to King Henry VIII but before marrying Thomas Seymour.

These historical examples show that prior to the reign of King Edward VIII, royal wives retained their titles and statuses, albeit with some changes.

Queen Mary and the Marriage to King Philip of Spain

Queen Mary I, also known as Mary Tudor, did not give up her titles or her position in the monarchy when she married King Philip II of Spain. Instead, they both exchanged titles, but the monarchs from Spain did not gain the right to rule Great Britain. King Philip was not granted the right to rule Spain or the Netherlands and similarly, Queen Mary did not give up her right to rule England.

Queen Mary of Scots

Queen Mary of Scots also retained her title and her status as monarch of Scotland after her marriage to the Dauphin of France. This shows that the practice of giving up one's title was not a common requirement for royal brides in Scotland or France.

Queen Victoria and Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha maintained their titles and roles as the British monarchy continued. Neither of them faced any significant requirement to give up their titles or roles due to their marriage.

Prince Philip's Unique Case

When Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, married Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II), he had to give up any claims to the Greek throne before becoming a naturalized British citizen. This was a unique requirement due to the political situation in Greece at the time, which had abolished their monarchy.

In summary, while there are historical precedents and unique situations where some royal titles were given up or altered, the general rule in modern times is that British Royal family members keep their titles and roles after marriage. This is a testament to the evolving nature of the British monarchy and its traditions.