Faith Renounced: The "Royal" Price of Marriage

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

18 May 2008 01:39 PM

Yesterday Windsor Castle was the setting of a royal marriage. Queen Elizabeth II's oldest grandson, Peter Phillips, married Canadian Autumn Kelly.

From what I can tell, Peter's one of the lower profile royals. (Meaning, he keeps a low profile by choice.) In fact, he did not immediately reveal to Autumn that he even was a royal. She only realized it when she saw a program about Prince William and spotted Peter as part of it.

What's interesting about their marriage is what she gave up: her faith. She still believes in God, of course, but she was Roman Catholic. She had to renounce that and become a member of his church, the Church of England, in order to marry. Or, more precisely, so that he could keep his stake in the throne.

Apparently Peter is 11th in line for the throne. Once upon a time a law known as the Act of Settlement was passed. It forbid any future monarch from claiming the throne if he married a Catholic.

Wild!

I would have thought something like that, in this day and time, would have been overturned, done away with...something. It doesn't seem politically correct at all. (Or religiously correct, as the case may be.)

Although, it is 2008 and the matter of vows was something else I was surprised set a benchmark on the royal front. Peter and Autumn promised to "love, comfort, honor, and keep each other." Autumn left "obey" out of her vows and this set a precedent for the weddings that are sure to follow. (Namely, the much anticipated weddings of either Prince William or Prince Harry.) I thought most couples were well past this.

But I want to know more about why she renounced her faith instead of him renouncing his claim to the throne. That had happened before. Except it wasn't a renouncement. King Edward VIII abdicated the throne when he wanted to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. King Edward VIII could have kept his title as king and still married her, but he abdicated because of the political firestorm that was sure to ensue if he didn't. (He also could have revoked his proposal to her and kept the throne, but he chose love instead. Which is kind of romantic.)

How do you supposed one approaches that conversation?

"Dear, I'm in love with you and want to marry you, but there's the small matter of your religion and a little thing called the throne of England."

Although, it can also be seen as romantic on her part for being willing to renounce her faith for him.

There's one other controversy surrounding Peter and Autumn's marriage. They sold the rights to their wedding to Hello! magazine. Perhaps the answer to why he kept his place in line for the throne and she renounced her faith is in there.

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Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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Samual (11722) 18 May 2008 02:26 PM

If you denounce your claim to the throne you also lose all of your earnings and livelyhood, not only that but as he is higher than her socially, it is his choice that comes first where such decisions are concerned within the royal family. Not only that he would have to give back any possesions he bought with Royal money, unlike the King who was able to bend the rules. The reason the law has not changed is due to the huge fights for the Church of England to remain intact throughout the centuries. Here the majority of vicars refuse to allow 'obey' in wedding vows, it has been like this for a very long time.

Courtney Mroch (9169) 19 May 2008 12:25 PM

Samual, you are providing a WEALTH of insight and info about life on the other side of the pond. THANK YOU so very much. This answers a lot of other questions I had too. I'm delighted you shared. ;)