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The Sussexes

Can Prince Harry marry a divorcée?

After Prince Harry brought his girlfriend, Meghan Markle to his close friend’s wedding in Jamaica, rumours have been swirling about another Royal wedding in the near future.

A friend of the couple even spoke to the Mirror, saying: “This the first time that she and Harry have socialised so openly as a couple and is a significant step up in their relationship.

“Make no mistake, he is heads over heels about her. This one could go all the way.”

However, even if Harry wanted to pop the question to Miss Markle, would he be allowed to marry her?

In the past, royalty has been forbidden to marry divorcées. The Queen’s own sister, Princess Margaret was in love with her father’s equerry, Group Captain Peter Townsend and even though The Queen wanted the world for her sister she could not allow it. Instead, Princess Margaret was told she must follow “the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble” or renounce her place in line to the throne.

More famously was Queen Elizabeth’s uncle, the then King Edward VIII who was only king for less than a year when he abdicated in favour of marrying the twice American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

Perhaps The Queen remembered the pain that it caused her sister to give up her first love, but in 2005 she allowed her son and heir, Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, a divorcée like himself.

Another speculation surrounding the possible marriage is the faith of Miss Markle. She was raised as a Roman Catholic, even attending a Catholic school. Luckily the new succession laws no longer forbid the marriage of Roman Catholics and Prince Harry would not lose his succession rights.

The Royal Family may be a traditional one in many senses but even they are changing with the times. Prince Harry would still have to gain approval from his Grandmother but things are looking in his favour.

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