Are the royals told "make sure she/he's a Protestant"?

[FlingonTheValiant]

Watching the wedding I found myself thinking it was very convenient Kate is CofE (or at least, I assume she is). And then I realised I was being a fool; it's not "convenient", it just wouldn't have happened if she wasn't.

So do you think they are told from a young age that they can only date and marry people from their own religion? Or would they just force conversion on someone if they wanted to marry and, for example, the bride was Jewish?

I don't imagine they need telling - I think it is very clear that anything other than marrying a protestant would have big implications.

They can marry someone non CofE but have to give up their position in line to the throne.
I read somewhere that (son of Princess Ann) Peter Phillips' wife renounced her Catholic faith so he could keep his place. I think that is the most recent case.

Yes piprabbit, I agree. I phrased it badly, I doubt they need it spelt out, but I suppose I mean is it must besomething that is made clear to them from a young age. I doubt that is the case for most normal people who are raised CofE. To grow up knowing that you have to be very selective about who you date. Do they ask in advance?

Just seems a very sad state of affairs for them. Either they give up family position, or their partner gives up their religion.

Peter Phillips is so far down the list I'm surprised she renounced.

Could they marry an atheist?

Yes, they can marry anyone except a Roman Catholic. Though the person would be expected to sit politely through any required representational religious occasions though not to actually take part in the observance. They would probably also cut it down to the big formal occasions - a bit like the representatives of other faiths at the wedding or Remembrance parades.

The "anyone but a Catholic" dates back from the time when it would have been inconceivable that a Royal would marry anyone who wasn't a Christian anyway.

The monarch is the head of the Church of England, so not unreasonable that they need to be CofE...

Prince Philip was/is eastern orthodox don't know if he had to change though.

So a Jewish bride would be fine, but a Catholic has to renounce?

wolfhound - yes I agree the monarch should be CofE but I don't see why they can't marry someone who isn't.

Thanks everyone!

Perhaps it something that can be tidied up together with amending primogeniture to make it sex blind?

Aren't Catholics only allowed to marry non-Catholics, if the N-C partner agrees that all children will be brought up as Catholics, which wouldn't be possible if the child was a potential head of the CofE.

Hmm good point piprabbit, I'm not sure.

Evan Harris had a private member's bill to try and get this changed (and allow women equal right of succession) in 2009.

Not a lot of interest back then.

Might come back this parliament I guess but Evan Harris lost his seat so don't know who will raise it this time.

Catherine was Catholic, wasn't she?

Until she swapped over a few weeks before the wedding.

I think Kate was christened but not confirmed, and was quietly confirmed a month or so ago.

Piprabbit is spot-on.

According to this Guardian, she was christened in the CofE as an infant, and confirmed by the Bishop of London in April.