| A morganatic marriage is a type of marriage which can be contracted in
certain countries, usually between persons of unequal social rank (unebenbürtig in German), which prevents the passage of
the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the
marriage.
Often, this is a marriage between a male from a royal or reigning house, often a historical German state, and a woman of lesser status (a non-royal or reigning house, or a woman with a low-status profession
such as actress). Neither the bride nor any children of the marriage has any claim on the groom's titles, rights, or entailed
property. The children are considered legitimate on other counts and the prohibition of bigamy applies.
Morganatic, from the Latin phrase matrimonium ad morganaticam, refers to
the gift given by the groom to the bride on the morning after the wedding. The practice of morganatic marriage was most common in
the German-speaking parts of Europe, where equality in marriage was
considered an important principle among the reigning houses and high nobility. The German name was Ehe zur linken Hand
(marriage by the left hand) and the husband gave his left hand during the wedding ceremony instead of the right. The French equivalent was an (openly) secret marriage.
The United Kingdom
Marriages have never been considered morganatic in England, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom.
The marriage of the former King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
was not morganatic, as the concept does not exist in British law. Edward renounced all of his titles for himself and successors
when he abdicated, and was created Duke of Windsor. When he married his wife became Duchess, and any children would have
inherited the title. The style H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness) is in the sovereign's gift, and was specifically not granted to
Wallis Simpson or any future children. As it happened, Edward and his wife had no children.
Upon the engagement of Charles, Prince of
Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles in February 2005, it was announced that, after the marriage, Mrs. Parker Bowles would take the title Her Royal
Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, and that once the Prince accedes to the throne she would not be known as Queen Camilla but as
Her Royal Highness The Princess Consort. This form of address is
based on that used by Queen Victoria's
husband, Prince Albert, who was
the Prince Consort. However, such a marriage cannot be considered to be
morganatic for two reasons: firstly, the decision has not been based upon Mrs. Parker Bowles's social rank, but upon her marital
status; secondly, this decision does not have any legal standing - although she has stated that she will not use the title (due
to the sensitivity of the British Public regarding her role in the breakup of Prince Charles's first marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales), under United Kingdom law Mrs.
Parker Bowles will legally become the Princess of Wales upon her marriage to Prince Charles. Similarly, upon Charles's coronation
she will automatically become Queen Consort (i.e. not Princess Consort). For precedent, compare the case of Queen Caroline, who became Queen Consort in the face of
vociferous protest from her estranged husband, King George IV who was forced to try to bring in an Act of Parliament to strip her of the title.
Examples
Examples of morganatic marriage:
- Prince Alexander of Württemberg and Claudine Rhedey. She was made Countess of Hohenstein; their children were later granted
the title of Prince of Teck. The eldest son, Franz, was later made Duke of Teck. His daughter Mary of Teck married
George V of the United Kingdom.
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