Franklin Dean
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 states that all descendants of King George II must obtain the monarch's agreement before they wed. This rule was amended in 2013 to only apply to the first six people in line to the throne. While some members of the royal family may not need to ask for permission, they would likely still seek the Queen's approval out of respect. If the Queen does not consent to the marriage, the person in question would be removed from the line of succession.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Royal Marriages Act | 1772 |
| Amended in | 2013 |
| To apply to | First six people in line to the throne |
| Purpose | To guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the royal house |
| Power to approve | Granted by an act of parliament |
| Approval | Required for marriages to be considered valid |
| Example | Queen Elizabeth II's approval of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage |
| Exception | Queen Victoria's acceptance of the marriage between the Duke of Inverness and Duchess of Sutherland |
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What You'll Learn
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772
The Act stipulated that no descendant of King George II, male or female, could marry without the consent of the reigning monarch, signified under the Great Seal and declared in council. This requirement did not apply to princesses and their descendants who married into foreign families. Additionally, the Act stated that any marriage contracted without the monarch's consent would be null and void. However, members of the royal family over the age of 25 who were refused consent could still marry one year after giving notice to the Privy Council, unless both houses of Parliament expressly declared their disapproval.
It is worth noting that even after the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was repealed, there were still conditions under which marriages declared void under the Act would be treated as never having been void. These conditions were outlined in the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 and included circumstances where neither party was one of the six persons next in line to the throne, no consent was sought or notice given under the Act, and it was reasonable for the person to be unaware of the Act's application to their marriage.
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The Queen's approval is required for the first six in line to the throne
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 stated that all descendants of King George II must obtain the sovereign's agreement before they wed. This was amended in 2013 when the Succession to the Crown Act was passed, which stated that only the first six people in line to the throne must seek the Queen's approval before marriage. This means that the Queen's approval is required for King Charles III's elder son, William, Prince of Wales, and his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Queen's consent is also necessary for William's younger brother, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his elder child, Prince Archie.
The Succession to the Crown Act repealed the Royal Marriages Act, which previously required the sovereign's approval for anyone in line to the throne. Now, only the first six in line must obtain consent, and failure to do so would disqualify them and their descendants from succeeding to the Crown. This change was proposed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sought to end the discrimination against women in line to the throne. The Act also removed the disqualification of those who married Roman Catholics from succeeding to the Crown.
While members of the royal family who are not in the first six places in line to the throne may not need to seek the Queen's approval, it is believed that they would still do so out of respect. For those who are required to obtain the Queen's consent, she would issue an Instrument of Consent to formally approve of the union. This document features decorative artwork chosen by the artist to represent the couple. In the case of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Instrument of Consent included a white lily representing St. Catherine of Siena, a Welsh leek, and a red escallop from the Spencer family Arms.
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The Instrument of Consent
In the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Instrument of Consent included a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, together with the UK's floral emblems – the rose, thistle and shamrock. It also featured Prince Harry’s Label, including three tiny red escallops from the Spencer family Arms. The rose was also included in the design to the right of the text as this is the national flower of the United States.
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The Queen's approval is not always needed
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 states that all marriages to a member of the British royal family are subject to the approval of the reigning monarch. However, this act was amended in 2013 to only apply to the first six people in line to the throne. This means that not all members of the royal family need the Queen's approval to marry.
For example, the Duke of Albany's descendants married without consent from the British monarch after he was deprived of his titles under the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917. Similarly, the Hanoverian Royal Family, who are descended from George III, regularly obtained the King's consent to their marriages, even though they lived abroad. In these cases, the consent of the British monarch was legally required to secure the position of the couple's issue as Princes or Princesses of Great Britain.
Additionally, there may be members of the royal family who do not legally require the Queen's consent to marry but would still seek her approval out of respect. While it is not mandatory for these individuals to do so, having the monarch's blessing is likely to be important to them and their place within the royal family.
It is worth noting that the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 has been criticised as unusual and controversial. Some have argued that it could no longer apply to anyone living due to the marriage patterns of the royal family over time. Despite this, the act was never modified between its original enactment and its repeal in 2013, and it continues to shape the wedding plans of those closest to the throne.
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The Queen's approval is a formality
The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 states that all descendants of King George II must obtain the monarch's agreement before they wed. This rule was amended in 2013 to apply only to the first six people in line to the throne. The Instrument of Consent, a formal notice of approval, is issued by the monarch to approve the union. Without the Instrument of Consent, the marriage would be considered invalid, and the person and their descendants would be disqualified from succession.
While the monarch's approval is not required for all members of the royal family, it is believed that they would still seek the Queen's blessing out of respect. The Queen is typically made aware of engagements within the royal family from the start and is involved in the planning process.
The monarch's role in approving marriages is a formality that is rooted in tradition and law. It is intended to guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the royal house and secure the position of any offspring as legitimate members of the royal family. While the Queen's approval is not meant to be a permanent "no," there have been instances where permission to marry was withheld or implicitly denied due to sensitive political or social circumstances.
The process of seeking the Queen's approval for a royal wedding is a formal tradition that ensures the continuity of the royal family and upholds its status. While it may be seen as a ceremonial duty, it carries legal implications for those in line to the throne, reinforcing the monarch's authority and influence over the royal family's marriages.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Queen must approve all royal wedding dresses before the big day. Duchess Kate, Princess Eugenie and Duchess Meghan all shared their designs with Her Majesty.
The royal couple can choose the venue within limits, but the Queen must approve it.
The royal couple can suggest the year and season they would like to marry, but the date must be approved by the Queen.
The Queen does not personally approve the guest list, but it is reviewed for security threats and inappropriate individuals.
Yes, the first six people in line to the throne need to obtain the Queen's permission to marry under the Royal Marriages Act 1772.
