Why the Royal Family Previously Prohibited Remarriage After Divorce

Breaking Tradition: The Royal Family's Shift on Divorce

When Prince Harry tied the knot with Meghan Markle in 2018, he not only made headlines for marrying an American actress but also for marrying a divorcee.

Markle's previous marriage to producer Trevor Engelson ended in 2013, challenging centuries-old taboos within the British monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth's approval of their union marked a significant shift in the family's stance on divorce.

But why was divorce such a contentious issue in the past?

According to Arianne Chernock, an associate professor of history at Boston University, the Church of England historically deemed divorce acceptable but frowned upon remarriage.

This position, ironically, traces back to the origins of the Church of England and its connection to Henry VIII's failed attempts to annul his marriage with the Catholic Church's blessing.

In the 1530s, Henry sought an annulment after Catherine of Aragon failed to produce a male heir.

When the pope repeatedly rejected his request, Henry gradually diminished the Church's influence in England and ultimately severed ties with Catholicism in 1534.

This break from the Roman Catholic Church established the British monarch as the official head of the Church of England, shifting the religious authority within Britain.

Monarchs thereafter pledged to uphold the religious principles of the Church of England during their coronations.

Consequently, divorce and remarriage within the royal family became nearly impossible.

Similar to other Christian denominations of the time, the Church of England reflected societal stigmas surrounding divorce.

While divorce laws became more lenient over time, the church continued to uphold traditional views.

Initially, legal divorces required parliamentary approval, resulting in only 131 divorces being granted in England throughout the entire 18th century, as noted by legal analyst Henry Kha.

Although civil divorce became legally possible in 1857, the royal standards remained unchanged.

Until 2002, the Church of England refused to recognize the marriage of any divorced individual whose former spouse was still alive.

Additionally, the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 stipulated that the reigning monarch had to approve the marriage of any descendant of George II.

Failure to obtain approval would necessitate both houses of Parliament to grant permission.

This law granted significant control to monarchs over their family members' love lives and came into play when royals sought to marry divorcees.

However, this did not imply that royals never pursued divorce.

In 1820, George IV attempted to divorce his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, by convening a parliamentary panel to prove her infidelity.

Although the divorce did not materialize, it had a disastrous impact on the monarchy.

The trial of Caroline played out in the court of public opinion, igniting the tabloid's obsession with the royal family.

For the first time, the collapse of a royal marriage became accessible to individuals from all social backgrounds through inexpensive publications.

It took until 1936 for the royal family to confront a monarch who intended to marry a divorced person.

Edward VIII's desire to wed Wallis Simpson, an American socialite with two prior divorces, triggered a constitutional crisis.

Marrying against the elected government's wishes would have undermined faith in the British Parliament, leading Edward to abdicate the throne instead.

Following this watershed moment, divorce became increasingly prevalent within the Windsor family.

In 1953, Princess Margaret contemplated marrying Peter Townsend, a divorced war hero, but ultimately abandoned the relationship, possibly due to the repercussions on her position in the line of succession.

Eventually, Margaret herself became a divorcee, and three of Queen Elizabeth II's four children also divorced.

In 1992, Princess Anne remarried in Scotland, where the church does not consider marriage a sacrament, thus bypassing the Church of England's restrictions on remarriage for divorcees.

In 1996, Prince Charles (now King Charles III) divorced Diana, creating a media frenzy.

While Diana never remarried, Charles did, and his bride, Camilla Parker Bowles, was also a divorcee.

Queen Elizabeth approved their marriage, signaling a new era in the royal family's attitude towards divorce.

According to Chernock, divorce has become more commonplace among current members of the royal family.

She states that it would be hypocritical for them to invoke the old standards at this point.

Since 2002, the Church of England has permitted the remarriage of divorced individuals under certain circumstances.

Regardless of the church's stance, Chernock anticipates future monarchs will adopt a more relaxed approach to divorce, citing the evolving societal expectations.

She believes that the next generation will not use this tradition in a personal or cruel manner.