If a future British king or queen was gay…

[Sweetchocolatecandy]

Do you think they would be accepted?

What titles would their respective husband or wife be given?

There have already been gay Kings and lesbian Queens of England?

I think we're a long way from that being widely accepted tbh.

I wasn’t aware of that? I’m assuming they didn’t marry their same-sex partners? I was just curious as to what titles their married partners would have if it happened nowadays..

There have already been gay Kings and lesbian Queens of England?

Openly?

I don't think it would be accepted now, but unless some accident occurred to both Charles and William, this would be likely to be a long way in the future and by then things would be very different.

I guess a King's husband would be given the title of Prince Consort and a Queen's wife would be given the title of Princess Consort (or more likely Duchess of somewhere).

The biggest issue would probably be re: bloodline and the legitimacy of an heir conceived via artificial insemination from someone other than the spouse, or via surrogacy. I guess there may already be protocols in place in the event of infertility in hetrosexual couples in the line of succession.

Bloody hell, it's all such bollocks.

@lupad
The kings yes, Queens no. Some “got away with it” so tolerated but not accepted. But others ended up murdered for it, ie Edward II was deposed by his wife for being gay and his lover getting too powerful. She had him imprisoned until he abdicated to their son. Then she had him murdered by having a hot poker stuck up his bum.

Realistically the next one who might be would be George and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have a monarchy by then.

@EmpressCixi ouch!

Queen Anne was a lesbian I think?
It’s an interesting question though. I think they might have to change something or other for future children for heir purposes, similar to how they changed things when Kate was pregnant in case she gave birth to a girl first. Prior to 2012 males take precedent in line of succession, just ask Anne!

@depremesnil

Realistically the next one who might be would be George and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have a monarchy by then.

Fingers crossed!

I personally don't think an openly gay monarch would be accepted, unfortunately. I think dissolving the monarchy would be a lesser step than this (in the eyes of the institution, I mean) and therefore that is more likely to happen before having a gay king/queen.

It is a shame, maybe even shocking, but it's hardly news that the monarchy aren't representative of the average Brit. And I LIKE the royal family!

[quote EmpressCixi]@lupad
The kings yes, Queens no. Some “got away with it” so tolerated but not accepted. But others ended up murdered for it, ie Edward II was deposed by his wife for being gay and his lover getting too powerful. She had him imprisoned until he abdicated to their son. Then she had him murdered by having a hot poker stuck up his bum.[/quote]
King James I and IV was bi-sexual I believe.

Point is, if you were the King you could do mostly do what the hell you like, who's going to stop you?

Can't see a gay monarch being a big deal in this day and age.

Edward the II was gay, I seem to recall his wife Isabella who was french? didn't take too kindly too that and had him imprisoned at Berkeley castle and then murdered him by putting a red hot poker up his bum. They say isabella was the most beautiful woman in the whole of the kingdom.

There are theories that Queen Elizabeth I was lesbian. She refused to marry, and let men fall all over her but never fell for one of them. But she had ladies in waiting that were very close.

No red hot poker for Edward II and his 'crime' was less being gay and more allowing his unpopular lover to have far too much power over the country. Though Isabella went onto to do the same with her male lover...

There's a theory he was 'allowed' to escape and live his days out anonomously as a monk...

As pp have said, there have been gay monarchs for whom it was an open secret. The most succesful were those that kept to the party line of marriage and children not being anything to do with love. Love who you like, but do not give them too much power and still marry and prodfuce heirs.

It's only very recently the royal family marrying for love alone has been accepted so it remains to be tested if someone could have an official same sex partner and be accepted. I suspect not (yet).

I imagine the DUP would struggle with it.

I’m a republican so rather hope there isn’t a monarchy for this to be a problem.

I think the issue would be about providing an heir to the throne rather than general acceptance. Also issues with other being head of the Church of England. Currently a gay couple cannot marry in Church.

A lot of people thought there would be massive problems with gay marriage but generally people got on with it.

I think by the time George is on the throne, if he happens to be gay it would be fine.

Clearly it doesn’t look like Charles or William are. But you never know.

Also issues with other being head of the Church of England. Currently a gay couple cannot marry in Church

I was going to say this.

Realistically, the scenario would be unlikely to arise within the next 50 years, since we can assume Charles and William are either heterosexual or firmly committed to disguising any other sexuality. I think by the time it's possible we might get a gay monarch, it's more likely to be an issue that we still have a monarchy, than what the sexual orientation of the monarch is.

Would a gay King/queen not just have a beard who has their children whether he/she liked it or not? Probably still have a lover but that's nothing knew really!

Definitely would never be accepted openly.

I’d imagine they would be accepted, within the UK at least, a good portion of the world may still be spectacularly behind the times.
If it couldn’t happen until at least Prince George becomes king the chances are not many people currently older than 50ish would still be alive, assuming PW lives a decently long life.