Do the royal family of England have to be Protestant?

Question

What if Prince William decided he wanted to marry a muslim girl or a jewish girl. Will she be eligible to be his consort or does she have to change her faith in order to be Queen of England and become protestant.

Answer 1

if you Marry a catholic you are outside the line of succession. You don't even have to convert. And any Catholic Offspring are out. Beyond that its not officially laid out

Answer 2

So far as I am aware, I think they are supposed to be Church of England.  The Defender of the Faith title is there.  The trouble is, I don't see anyone defending the faith.  I see very ordinary sinners who use privilege of social standing to do drugs, have extra marital affairs and in general thumb their nose at basic Christian tenets.

Hope you find your answer.

Cheers

Lisa

Answer 3

Yes,she'd have to convert and become Anglican/Church of England.It's part of the Act of Settlement rules for succession.

From http://www.royal.gov/uk

"The succession to the throne is regulated not only through descent, but also by statute; the Act of Settlement confirmed that it was for Parliament to determine the title to the throne.

The Act laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia - the Electress of Hanover and granddaughter of James I - are eligible to succeed. Subsequent Acts have confirmed this. ..

The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland. The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession."

Answer 4

The monarch has to be a Protestant. That's the law.

If the monarch marries a Roman Catholic, they get deposed, and the next legitimate heir takes over. That's the law.

If someone in the line of succession to the throne, like Prince William or Prince Harry, marries a Roman Catholic, they get removed from the line of succession. That's the law (but it says nothing about what happens if they divorce again before he would have succeeded to the throne).

There is no law about the monarch or an heir marrying a Muslim, Jew, other non-Protestant, or atheist. However, an heir needs the current monarch's consent to marry anybody at all while they are under 25 (Royal Marriages Act 1772).

Answer 5

William can, legally, marry anyone he wants to, as long as the reigning monarch gives their permission, with the consent of Parliament, and the person isn't Catholic.  She may not be able to be crowned Queen, though, if she does not convert to Church of England -- one of the parts of the coronation service involves taking the Sacraments, which an observant Muslim or Jewish woman would be unable to do.

Answer 6

it would be frowned upon if he were to choose someone outside of faith, including catholic.  the monarch is the head of the church of england (protestant) and defender of the faith.

Answer 7

All members of the royal family must be a Protestant and a member of the Anglican Church, in order to retain its position within the line of the succession to the British throne.

If Prince William of Wales decides to choose a bride outside of this religion, the "bride-to-be" must convert its faith to Protestant or Prince William will have to give up his right to the British crown.

Everyone including the royal family has the right to marry whomever they want, its just a matter of whether they want to be in the line of succession or not, its really that simple. If a royal member does not follow its laws then they will removed from the succession line.

Answer 8

their future will be  like P. diana :(

Answer 9

Not allowed to be catholic

other faiths not specified

Answer 10

yes it was made a law thet the King and Queen of England have to be protestant.

Answer 11

As the Monarch is also the Head of the Church he/she has to be Anglican. Prince Philip converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglican just before his marriage.

A member of the Royal family cannot marry a Catholic without forefeiting his/her place in the line of succesion. Peter Philips (currently 10th in line) is engaged to a Catholic, if she does not convert he will forfeit his place (which will be taken by his sister, Zara).

If William wanted to marry a Muslim or Jewish girl it would generally be expected that she would have to convert.

Answer 12

you betcha.  Anglican - the Church of England