Can they be forced to have children?

[mycraws]

Just wondered if a senior member for the royal family refused to have children, how it would be dealt with. They don't have the option of choosing to remain childfree because they need to secure the line of secession so I wonder what would happen to them?

Engage brain

of course they have a choice
and there’s a line to the throne that goes back as far as you can imagine

The line of succession already provides for this. If William hadn't had children the crown would have gone to Harry, or Harry's children if Harry wasn't living upon Williams death.

Queen Victoria only got the throne because none of her three uncles had legitimate heirs.

Having children is not obligatory for the line to continue. But I imagine there is a certain expectation and pressure.

I doubt it would matter, there’s always the next person in line.

I suppose there would be a lot of pressure to have children, but they can choose to remain childfree.

The most obvious example is Elizabeth I.
She chose not to get married or have children.

She was the Virgin Queen - although I think "virgin" is a little suspect.

If the Monarch (I.e the person who wears the crown) chooses not to have children, then it goes to the next in line.

If, say, William didn't have children, then the next in line is Harry. And then the crown would pass through his children.

Straight to the guillotine, obviously.

This is the line of succession.

1. The Prince of Wales
2. Prince George of Wales
3. Princess Charlotte of Wales
4. Prince Louis of Wales
5. The Duke of Sussex
6. Prince Archie of Sussex
7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex
8. The Duke of York
9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi 11. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank 12. Master August Brooksbank 13. Master Ernest Brooksbank 14. The Duke of Edinburgh 15. Earl of Wessex 16. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 17. The Princess Royal 18. Mr. Peter Phillips 19. Miss Savannah Phillips 20. Miss Isla Phillips 21. Mrs. Michael Tindall 22. Miss Mia Tindall 23. Miss Lena Tindall 24. Master Lucas Tindall

It wouldn't matter at all, it just passes to the next in line.

If they were married they would be under public pressure to explain their choice and their marriage would probably be dismissed as a scam.

they might not be forced as such, but the understanding was upon marriage, William and Catherine were expected to be producing an heir within 18 months. (There was a suggestion that rather than being “Waity Katy” as she was dismissed, she was putting off getting married until she was ready to have dcs, as the expectation was straight away)

Don't be absurd.

How do you imagine that this "forcing" would come about?

Bizarre

Yikes, can't believe I just read that. 😂😂😂1) The dark ages are long gone! 2) They're brainwashed from birth to toe the line. 3) If they don't want something, somebody else who's following close behind will be more than willing to take their place for free and for fame.

You know

The turkey baster

The Royals live an incredibly privileged and affluent lifestyle whereby they know that toeing the line WRT The Rules helps keep this lifestyle alive enormously. so whilst it wouldn’t much matter if the sovereign had no children, it’s generally better to because it curries favour with everybody. I don’t think Elizabeth or Charles were natural parental figures, however they understood the assignment and had learnt a lot from what happens if you’re more like Uncle David than Queen Victoria (also not a natural maternal figure apparently but popped out a load of sprogs to stop the line of succession fucking up)

🤣🤣 why do you think a young couple who were heirs to the throne would not have discussed this before marriage ? Like every royal person going back in time they have had a few talks with one of the archbishops before marriage to thrash this out. And do you think women marrying into royals is too stupid not to have thought this through
jeez, it’s the sort of thing EVERYONE should discuss before marriage , even th common peasants amongst us 🤦‍♀️

What a crazy question! How on earth could they be "forced"?????????????? and who by????

I do often wonder what would happen if a royal couple wanted to adopt or use donor sperm/eggs due to infertility. Would they be recognised as legitimate heirs? I doubt it

They would not be recognised as part of the line of succession under current rules.