Questions about Royalty

[Deleted]

niddlemiddle said:

I was just watching a show on TV about the crown jewels and the they touched on the abdication of the throne by Edward VIII to be with Wallis Simpson. It was interesting that the reason he couldn't become King was because she was divorced.
My question to all of you..
Do the British monarchy marry from the US or other nations? I know historically, they married princes and princesses from other nations but I found it interesting that he abdicated based on her being divorced... not that she wasn't royal.

At the time it happened, royalty had much more relevance and power than they do today. Also, divorce was MUCH more scandalous at the time, and it's always been frowned upon by the Church of England.

Wallis had been divorced TWICE, which didn't bother the upper class, but they were upset at about her being an American (snobbery). Whereas the middle and lower classes didn't mind her being an American so much as they did the divorced part.

Plus, Edward VIII was really kind of an ass-he was selfish, demanding, determined to have his own way, the law and precedent be damned. He may have made a good Prince of Wales, but he wasn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box.

Auroranorth, I haven't heard about the state papers, although maybe I just don't remember, but it doesn't surprise me.

As for actual Nazi sympathies, it's no doubt from quotes that he was quite a racist, but I don't think he was smart enough to try to pull off some kind of coup. He was basically an overgrown child. Spoiled, selfish, immature, all those things. Plus, he could NOT be made to understand WHY Wallis would be so unpopular.

George VI, on the other hand, wasn't as glamorous, but he was MUCH more intelligent, just very shy and insecure (due to a horrible crippling stutter). He and the Queen Mum were VERY popular, (well, the then Duchess of Windsor), as were his daughters, the then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

I don't THINK that a future princess is supposed to be a virgin, literally, she's just not supposed to have a "past", or I guess, a racy reputation. In Diana's case, she was nineteen years old-that's just too damned young to get married in most cases, especially in a marriage that will bring so much responsibility. And let's face it-I don't think Chuck, without his title, is all that great a catch. He looked like such a nob and he seems like a real tool.


Strangely enough, Tsar Nicholas II's younger brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail, also married a twice-divorced commoner (she left her second, abusive husband to marry him), but fortunately, Mikhail was a lot smarter, and didn't push for a title for his wife, nor did she have any allusions about being a Grand Duchess. (They did make her a Countess). Nor did he have to give up his title as second in line to the throne for marrying her.

[azaleaqueen]

Anybody remember the shot of her while she was still teaching at that nursery schol withthe see-through skirt and no slip?

Boy, angela Brown does NOT look like she's in her 40s.

[Daisy Pusher]

guinastasia said:

Strangely enough, Tsar Nicholas II's younger brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail, also married a twice-divorced commoner (she left her second, abusive husband to marry him), but fortunately, Mikhail was a lot smarter, and didn't push for a title for his wife, nor did she have any allusions about being a Grand Duchess. (They did make her a Countess). Nor did he have to give up his title as second in line to the throne for marrying her.

True, but upon his brother's marriage, Nicholas II stripped Mikhail of the right to govern his property, and had all of Mikhail's holdings placed under a guardianship due to Mikhail's apparent "insanity" (N & A's view, not mine) in choosing to marry Nathalia. Mikhail was, for all intents and purposes, declared legally incapacitated by N II. Nathalia's title was begrudgingly bequeathed only to give their son (born prior to their marriage) a legal name. Not until the war started did Nicholas relent allow Mikhail and Nathalia back into Russia, and relent on the guardianship thing.

Amyway, I fully agree with your assessment of Edward VIII as an ass, but I do think Wallis gets a bad rap from history.

[Deleted]

I agree- I think Wallis must have really loved him.

[Daisy Pusher]

I do think she loved him, but there was also a lot of, how shall I say it....a sense of obligation? After all, he abdicated the throne for her (and I tend to agree with the revised historical view that she tried to discourage him from doing so). After that, she probably felt that she had no choice but to stay with him and try and make his life as comfortable and entertaining as possible. YMMV, of course, but I think she also got screwed big time by George VI and the Queen (the Queen Mum) on the whole HRH issue. Wallis was entitled to the HRH.

[Deleted]

kokopelli said:

guinastasia said:

Strangely enough, Tsar Nicholas II's younger brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail, also married a twice-divorced commoner (she left her second, abusive husband to marry him), but fortunately, Mikhail was a lot smarter, and didn't push for a title for his wife, nor did she have any allusions about being a Grand Duchess. (They did make her a Countess). Nor did he have to give up his title as second in line to the throne for marrying her.

True, but upon his brother's marriage, Nicholas II stripped Mikhail of the right to govern his property, and had all of Mikhail's holdings placed under a guardianship due to Mikhail's apparent "insanity" (N & A's view, not mine) in choosing to marry Nathalia. Mikhail was, for all intents and purposes, declared legally incapacitated by N II. Nathalia's title was begrudgingly bequeathed only to give their son (born prior to their marriage) a legal name. Not until the war started did Nicholas relent allow Mikhail and Nathalia back into Russia, and relent on the guardianship thing.

Amyway, I fully agree with your assessment of Edward VIII as an ass, but I do think Wallis gets a bad rap from history.

Oh, absolutely-I agree there-I read the book Michael and Natasha a while ago (I even own it). However, I think that the difference at least with Mikhail is that he didn't insist on his wife sharing his rank, nor did he expect the entire country to welcome her with open arms. And Natasha had no illusions about becoming a Duchess-all she wanted was her divorced to be finalized before she gave birth so that her ex wouldn't have a legal claim to him.

Eventually, his rank and title were restored, and he even became something of a war hero.

I feel for Wallis-from what I gather, after the Duke died, she really didn't have anyone except her maid, or her nurse, her health was poor, etc. I too agree she should have been given HRH, if only to smooth things over between the two camps and to shut the Duke up. He really could be an ass. (For example, he never disclosed the fact that he had a substantial fortune from his holdings while PoW when it was proposed that he would be given an annual income of what, 25,000 pounds?)

I'm just glad she was allowed to be buried next to him. (I hear Mountbatten pulled some strings there).

I think that the Queen Mum ultimately blamed the two of them for her husband's early death-the link between smoking (and George VI was a human chimney!) and lung cancer wasn't fully understood then. She was angry about the stress the position put on him-can't say I blame her entirely.

But they both had some petty moments. Even Duke's sister, Princess Mary, the Princess Royal, refused to attend her niece's (Elizabeth's) wedding to Prince Phillip because her brother wasn't invited. I can't say I blame her there. (Princess Mary, not Elizabeth).

That reminds me-does Camilla have the HRH?

[kelly9480]

Yas, Camilla has the HRH, but she goes by Duchess of Cornwall to not upset folks.

[missmsry]

What's the skinny on today's marriage of a royal in Luxembourg? Luxembourg's Prince Louis married commoner Tessy Antony. Their 6 month old child was at the wedding and renounced his right to the title of Grand Duke of Luxembourg through the marriage.

[Deleted]

Prince Louis of Luxembourg, 20, got his girlfriend Tessy Anthony pregnant last year. She gave birth to little Gabriel in March 2006, and they were married today in Luxembourg, Louis renouncing to his rights to the throne. (He's the third son, not the heir.)

[Deleted]

Just curious as to why he renounced? Is it like the BRF where if they marry a Catholic, they have to renouce?