Legal Definitions - Royal Marriages Act

The Royal Marriages Act was a British law enacted in 1772. Its primary purpose was to prevent members of the royal family from entering into marriages without the express permission of the reigning monarch. This legislation was introduced by King George III, who was concerned about the potential damage to the dignity and honor of the royal family if its members contracted marriages deemed "unsuitable."

Specifically, the Act stipulated that descendants of King George II (with the exception of princesses who married into foreign royal families) could not legally marry without the consent of the King in Council. However, there was an alternative provision for those over the age of 25: they could give 12 months' notice of their intention to marry to the Privy Council. If, during that year, neither the House of Commons nor the House of Lords explicitly disapproved of the proposed marriage, it could proceed and would be considered valid.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of the Royal Marriages Act:

• Imagine a fictional Prince Edward, a direct descendant of King George II and only 22 years old, wishes to marry a talented artist who is not of royal lineage. Under the Royal Marriages Act, Prince Edward would be legally required to obtain the explicit consent of the reigning monarch, his grandmother, before he could marry. Without this formal approval, any marriage ceremony he undertook would not be legally recognized in the United Kingdom. This demonstrates the Act's requirement for direct royal consent for younger family members.

• Consider Princess Charlotte, a 29-year-old descendant of King George II, who decides to marry a respected academic from a non-royal background. Because she is over 25, she opts to follow the alternative procedure outlined in the Act. She formally notifies the Privy Council of her intention to marry, initiating a 12-month waiting period. During this year, neither the House of Commons nor the House of Lords raises any objection to her proposed union. Consequently, after the 12 months, Princess Charlotte is free to marry, and her marriage is legally valid, illustrating the parliamentary notification pathway for older royals.

• In a historical scenario from the early 19th century, a fictional Duke of Clarence, a great-grandson of King George II, secretly marries a wealthy merchant's daughter without seeking any royal or parliamentary approval. Years later, the validity of his marriage is challenged. Due to his failure to adhere to the requirements of the Royal Marriages Act—either by obtaining the monarch's consent or following the 12-month notification process—his marriage is legally declared null and void, meaning it was never recognized as a legitimate union under British law. This highlights the Act's power to invalidate marriages that did not comply with its strictures.