Is it true British princes / princess in line for the throne are forbidden to marry Catholics ?

Question

is it not like some one-party politics in a totalitarian regime in the third world ?

Answer 1

yes and for a very good reason. But I believe that this law may have been been challenged and "overthrown" quite recently.

We do indeed have short memories.

Answer 2

and black people

Answer 3

I don't believe so. Doesn't sound like English law to me.

I could very well be wrong. I'm not from the UK

Answer 4

The monarch of the United Kingdom is also titular head of the Church of England. Any royal who wishes to be in succession to the throne must be Church of England.This means that a royal who marries a Catholic steps down from the line of succession.

It is possible that this may change one day;instead of being known as "defender of the faith" Charles has let it be known that he wants to be known as "defender of the FAITHS."

As it stands now,from http://www.royal.gov/uk/output/Page5655....

"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.

Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne; nor may the Sovereign marry a Roman Catholic.

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 5

Yes, this is due to an old but still valid piece of legislation called the Act of Settlement. It was passed in 1701 to ensure that only the Protestant descendants of Electress Sophia of Hanover - a granddaughter of James I - would be eligible for the throne. If anyone in the succession does marry a Catholic, they are barred from ever ascending the throne.

Answer 6

They are not "forbidden" to marry catholics but if they do they forfeit there right of succession

Answer 7

They can marry whoever they wish but if they choose a Catholic then they have to give up their place in the succession.

Answer 8

Yes its true,

as the Catholic faith requires all children from a Catholic marriage to be baptised Catholic so the future King/Queen would be a Catholic.

The King or Queen is head of the Church of England so therefore cant be catholic.

Another reason for not having a Catholic head of state is to prevent the Pope having influence over the country.

Answer 9

No, it is not true. The Act of Settlement of 1701, which governs the succession line to the British throne only exclude a royal member from inheriting the crown if they breach the section where it strictly states, "Anyone who is Roman Catholic, becomes Roman Catholic, or marries a Roman Catholic is permanently excluded from the succession." The descendants of those who are disbarred for becoming or marrying Roman Catholics, however, may still be eligible to succeed.

There had been royal members who were removed from the line of succession in the past. Prince Michael of Kent, the Queen's first cousin was married to a Catholic in 1978. Under the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701, which governs the laws of the succession to the British Throne, Prince Michael forfeited his place in the line of succession through marriage to a Roman Catholic.

However, even if any British royal family member coverts or marries a Catholic, they may continue to use their royal status, styles and titles. For example, Prince Michael of Kent and his wife remained a Prince or Princess of the United Kingdom, and were allowed to continue to use any royal titles and styles bestowed upon them.

Note: There had been suggestions to remove such a provision in the Act, since the action of "banning Catholics" currently violates the Discrimination Act in the UK. However, the Blair government blocked all attempts to revise the succession laws, claiming it would raise too many constitutional issues.

Answer 10

Well they are not "forbidden" to do so...but if they do they automatically forfiet their right to succession.

From the Royal Family Web Page

"Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne; nor may the Sovereign marry a Roman Catholic"

so if you marry a Catholic..then you can no longer be monarch..so you have forfeited your line of sucession.

Answer 11

If they do they cannot be in line to the throne plus

they will be removed from the Civil List,thus losing

any money paid to them for just being a Royal

in line to the throne,they will not get any government grants.

Answer 12

They are not forbideen, but if they wish to marry a Catholic,  then they have to forfeit their claim to the throne.

Answer 13

Is used to be - if it's not it should be!

Answer 14

Yes - I do think that is right!

Answer 15

There are some  uncharitable replies. Here we are with the most blatant and cruel piece of legislation which sponsers State sectarianism and it reads as though some  people are saying, "that's how it is,  let it continue". The Act barrs Roman Catholics in utter isolation,  making us 3rd rate citizens.  Is Protestanism still terrified of the Roman Catholics?

The good news is that the Act of Settlement has NEVER been tested in law and could easily be overturned. The Act is expected to be referred to the Court of Human Rights . Arguments that the monarch must be the Titular Head of the Church of England is total bunkum. The Anglican Church in Ireland and Wales has been disestablished and as far as I know it is going strong.  Some  comments are completely lacking in natural justice and at worst show signs of sectarian hatred.

Thanks in advance for all the thumbs downers!

Answer 16

Ever since Henry the 8th. To find out why go to the library and ask for a book on English History circa 1500.

Answer 17

They are not forbidden but if they do they automatically forfeit their poistion in line for the throne. Althought if the Catholic converts to Protestisam then they do not have to give up their place in line for the throne.

Answer 18

Yes it is. If the couple really want to marry, then the Catholic has to give up their faith and become a member of the Church Of England, which the Queen is a patron of.

Princess Anne's son, Peter's fiancee has just had to do this because she was a Catholic.

Answer 19

Sounds like true . . . . .. !