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If a future British king or queen was gay…

72 replies

Sweetchocolatecandy · 30/11/2021 09:57

Do you think they would be accepted?

What titles would their respective husband or wife be given?

OP posts:
WildRosie · 30/11/2021 13:43

As has already been stated, such a situation would threaten the biological line of immediate succession. If we had a same-sex monarch and consort, the line of succession may need to be moved sideways IYSWIM to a sibling of the monarch. Preferably one already with issue.

We need a constitutional expert for this one.

Fifthtimelucky · 30/11/2021 13:53

The rules of succession must already cover this. Historically lots of kings and queens haven't had children so the crown goes to their next sibling and then the next.

I suppose the difference now would be if a gay king or queen adopted or had a surrogate baby. I have no idea whether an adopted child would succeed. For a surrogate I suppose it might depend on whether the child was biologically the king/queen's or not. I wonder whether the rules on illegitimacy have been updated.

AmyDudley · 30/11/2021 14:30

I don't think being gay without issue would be a problem, the succession would just go to nearest living blood relative.
Adoption - I think a rule would hastily be brought in to say 'blood line only'
A child conceived by artificial insemination would be more of a dilemma I think because although blood line, the child might be seen as illegitimate since monarch is head of a church which does not support gay marriage. Not sure what they'd do in this instance, probably go to nearest 'legitimate' heir. But then there might be a public outcry.
Hopefully the monarchy won't exist by then and this is all extremely hypothetical.
The current royal family would I think force a gay heir into marriage with the opposite sex in order to produce children and maintain the pretence of the marriage while turning a blind eye to any extra marital liasons. They have form for this.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

MrsBison · 30/11/2021 14:43

Tbf it would probably be more accepted than Meghan tbh.

(Assuming the individual is of good background, education, no baggage, etc)

drspouse · 30/11/2021 14:50

Adoption - I think a rule would hastily be brought in to say 'blood line only'
The rule for inheritance of Peerage already says this, so it's unlikely we actually need a change.

Snugglepumpkin · 30/11/2021 14:54

I wouldn't really care if they were gay, but I wouldn't accept them having a surrogate child as an heir as that would just make them a slaver, so whoever inherited the throne afterwards would not be their offspring.

x2boys · 30/11/2021 14:58

@StrangeAddiction

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.

Yes that's what I think would happen , assuming there is still a monarchy if this were to be the case .
burnoutbabe · 30/11/2021 14:59

do they actually check DNA now for the line of succession?

Its quite possible for the sons of say Charles to not be Charles's actual heirs, same with William.

ginnybag · 30/11/2021 15:26

Presupposing that George is gay, then Charlotte, and Charlotte's children will be his heirs, exactly as Harry was William's until William had George.

His being gay is neither here nor there, but, to inherit directly, any children would have to be both his biologically, and legitimately born from his marriage. Currently, the monarch must marry in the Church of England, and the Church doesn't acknowledge gay marriage. Marriage outside the Church wouldn't be recognised, so he would neither be able to marry any future partner to make them any sort of consort, nor have any legitimate heir.

Line of succession is just that - right descends down the line (previously only the male line) from the current Monarch in the most direct route, eldest to eldest. If that line 'runs out', then the line moves back up to the last unbroken place, and then down the next eligible path.

So, Charlotte would (and is until he has legitimate children) be George's heir, not because she's his sister, but because she is the next eligible line from William.

In the incredibly unlikely event that all three Cambridge children don't have a legitimate child, then the line will move back up through William to Charles, and down again to Harry, and then Archie (and Archie's kids, if they count) and then Lillibet and hers.

If both of them don't have legitimate children, either (or do something else constitutionally iffy, like conversion out of the C of E) then the line would go back 'up' to Elizabeth, and then down to Andrew and Beatrice and Eugenie, etc.

There's always a 'line' - and it's publicly available out to about the 200th place. It's quite an interesting read if you're into this sort of thing, and the current one does actually show some good examples of the 'back up and down again' rules, because things did get a bit fragile after Edward abdicated, and left George with two girls as his heirs.

The key is descent from the Monarch, via the shortest legitimate route, and the last update (prior to the 2012 change) was the current Queen's grandad, around WW1.

BiscuitLover3679 · 30/11/2021 15:32

For some reason when it comes to the royals, normal things like being gay aren't accepted. Which is so ridiculous. If you just think of the uproar with Harry marrying meghan and the fact she was, gasp, a divorcee! And you know not white.

gogohm · 30/11/2021 15:33

I suspect they would be accepted, society has moved on

x2boys · 30/11/2021 15:49

I do think it's more ridiculous that we still have a Monarchy ,than a future Monarch being Gay

sashagabadon · 30/11/2021 15:53

I think a more interesting question is what would happen if the king/ queen had a child out of wedlock. Or a heir did say George prior to being king. That would be hard to cover up these days and with so many children borne out of wedlock including my own it would be hard to disinherit them of their place in the line of succession.

bustersword · 30/11/2021 15:54

Currently, the monarch must marry in the Church of England, and the Church doesn't acknowledge gay marriage.

Unless the CofE decide to shed their bigotry in the next century.

EmpressCixi · 30/11/2021 16:32

@sashagabadon

I think a more interesting question is what would happen if the king/ queen had a child out of wedlock. Or a heir did say George prior to being king. That would be hard to cover up these days and with so many children borne out of wedlock including my own it would be hard to disinherit them of their place in the line of succession.
Well, wasn’t William the Bastard born out of wedlock? He was illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy and his mistress Heleneva. Didn’t stop him from getting the Dukedom, or later taking the English Crown and renaming himself as William the Conquerer.
Cobiemakesmesmulder · 30/11/2021 16:35

@sashagabadon

I think a more interesting question is what would happen if the king/ queen had a child out of wedlock. Or a heir did say George prior to being king. That would be hard to cover up these days and with so many children borne out of wedlock including my own it would be hard to disinherit them of their place in the line of succession.
No it wouldn't. It's already a law that only legitimate heirs can inherit the throne. They'd be financially provided for, I'm sure. But they wouldn't, and couldn't inherit, that's already legally very very solid.
CovidCorvid · 30/11/2021 16:38

Would be interesting if a future gay monarch decided to adopt. Would that adoptive child be in line for the throne

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/11/2021 16:41

With DNA tests it would be easy for a king to conceive with a surrogate or a queen to use a sperm donor. (Morality of surrogacy aside).

But there's enough "spare" heirs to not worry about the future bloodline. I think by the time George is king, it will be a moot point as homosexuality is accept by the majority now.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/11/2021 16:43

I think it was the Netherlands that recently changed their laws to implicitly state that the young heirs could marry both same sex and different sex partners?

Cobiemakesmesmulder · 30/11/2021 16:49

@CovidCorvid

Would be interesting if a future gay monarch decided to adopt. Would that adoptive child be in line for the throne
Not without a law change.
GiantCheeseMonster · 30/11/2021 17:10

The question of them being gay is a non-event, really. Doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters in the monarchy is the line of succession. Adoption and surrogacy are out for reasons already outlined. If the king didn’t have legitimate heirs (because he is gay or for any other reason) then the succession would pass to the next in line. So I think it would be fine.

drspouse · 30/11/2021 17:14

The United Reformed Church now celebrates gay marriage. The CofE does if one partner declares they are now the opposite sex. So they may change or they may continue to be homophobic.

Werehamster · 30/11/2021 17:16

Have you seen Young Royals? It's very good and deals with this question.

Royals care about bloodline but I think this isn't such a huge issue these days. they could always pass the crown to a niece of nephew of they don't have kids.

LoveGrooveDanceParty · 30/11/2021 17:24

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.

IF George is gay, it’s going arise much sooner than 50 years’ time. More like 15, or 20 at an absolute push.

William may be King for another 50+ years, but I imagine his son - like William himself - will partner up / marry well before his own coronation.

The royals have only been allowed to marry for love since Charles’ second marriage, and that in itself is a huge (much needed) sea change.

Before that, gay monarchs would have married whoever they were told to (just like straight monarchs), and then had their needs met with people they actually liked/loved/fancied behind the scenes (just like straight monarchs).

x2boys · 01/12/2021 11:41

If George where Gay ,I think the General public would be fine attitudes have changed enough I think/hope for it not to be an issue ,but would the Royal family themselves accept a same sex spouse ?

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