Relationships March 29, 2017
With their romance progressing well, it may not be too long before Prince Harry pops the question to American actress Meghan Markle. But there’s someone else he will have to ask first.
Under an ancient British law, Harry is required to ask the Queen’s permission before he can get down on one knee.
In case you weren’t paying full attention when binge watching “The Crown,” allow ENTITY to explain how it works.
The Royal Marriage Act of 1772 was set up to give the monarch the power of veto over letting anyone into the family that could “diminish the status of the royal house.”
Some Meghan fans on social media have said the fact the “Suits” star is a divorcee count count against her chances due to British royal tradition. But her previous marriage, to film producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, is actually not a reason for objection. There’s precedent there. After all, the Queen gave her son Prince Charles permission to marry Camilla, and she was a divorcee.
The only problem in marrying Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, could come if his bride to be was Catholic!
Under another ancient law which is still in force, the Act of Settlement of 1701, no one in the direct line of succession could marry a Catholic and keep the same rights to the throne. They could still become king or queen themselves but their Catholic spouse could never take over from them in the top job.
This is because the monarch is also head of the Church of England, which was established by Henry VIII following a dispute with the pope who would not allow him to divorce his wife to marry his mistress. So he set up his own church where he could be allowed to marry who he wanted – and every history student knows how that turned out.
Meghan is Jewish and her religion is no barrier to entering the royal family. So now it’s up to Harry, 32, to put a ring on it.
He confirmed he was dating the 35-year-old American in an official statement in November 2016 and the the two of them were photographed hand-in-hand for the first time a month later.
According to the latest reports out of London, Meghan is set to move in with Harry at Kensington Palace this summer. They recently attended their first wedding as a couple, when Harry was an usher for a friend’s nuptials at Montego Bay in Jamaica, and speculation has increased about the chances of their own wedding.
British online bookmaker Betfair just reduced the odds of Harry popping the question this year to 9/4. Obviously, he would have to ask Her Majesty’s permission first.
