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Original poster

What role would an ex royal wife have?

37 replies

lemonsandbakewell · 10/09/2021 20:29

Just a question, what public role is there for a divorced royal wife? Let's say William and Kate divorced would Kate's role change and if Diana had lived for example? Would they be allowed to speak publicly about politics as they are no longer married to their royal husband?

OP posts:

TomBradysLeftKneecap · 10/09/2021 20:35

Historically, it’s ended with the ex wife dead as a doorknob so hopefully they would have learned by that.

LittleBearPad · 10/09/2021 20:36

See Fergie for an example.

Basically none.

WinnieTheW0rm · 10/09/2021 20:43

It depends on their profile beforehand?

So good divorce settlement, and continuing charity works - they're unlikely to be employable in any normal sense of the word (nit because of qualifications, but because of press intrusion given the level of continuing interest in Diana). The further away from the line of succession (is the ex likely to end up as mother of a monarch?) the more likely the requirement to become self-supporting

Justajot · 10/09/2021 20:44

A decent divorce settlement and the opportunity to live at leisure. Plus the cachet to enable them to get a new husband if they want to.

PeriWrinkles · 10/09/2021 20:49

It'd be like having a golden extension lead tied round your neck. Out of the actual cage, but one foot out of line you'd be yanked back in.

Original poster

lemonsandbakewell · 10/09/2021 20:50

How could they control them if their divorced from the family?

OP posts:

PicsInRed · 10/09/2021 20:55

@lemonsandbakewell

How could they control them if their divorced from the family?

The monarch has full legal custody of the children.

Original poster

lemonsandbakewell · 10/09/2021 20:56

What if they did not have children

OP posts:

MaggieFS · 10/09/2021 20:56

@lemonsandbakewell

How could they control them if their divorced from the family?

Access to children!

MaggieFS · 10/09/2021 20:57

Sorry, x post.

PicsInRed · 10/09/2021 21:00

@lemonsandbakewell

What if they did not have children

"The firm does not forbid wives to take jobs, the firm encourages children."

Hekatestorch · 10/09/2021 21:04

Diana or Kate can't just get divorced and decide their kids are no longer heirs to the throne. Though to be fair I think that would be fairly obvious and probably explained before the engagement.

So they aren't really ever free. Though I imagine it's easier for people the position of say Fergie or Meghan.

They would get very healthy settlements and decide from there. They would still be able to trade on their name (who can blame them) or, if they don't need money, pursue things close to their hearts Purley to do it.

VodselForDinner · 10/09/2021 21:08

@lemonsandbakewell

What if they did not have children

If they did not have children, I’d imagine they’d be ousted pretty sharply.

Can’t see The Firm being ok with the heir farm being closed down.

Original poster

lemonsandbakewell · 10/09/2021 21:23

So let's say as an example if the heir to the throne and his wife divorced and had no children, would the public be happy in the ex-wife continuing to receive police protection paid the taxpayer

OP posts:

thedevilinablackdress · 10/09/2021 21:28

would the public be happy in the ex-wife continuing to receive police protection paid the taxpayer

I can confirm that many of The Public are not happy about any of our taxes being spent on any members of the Royal Family, current or former.

Chainson · 10/09/2021 21:32

No-one knows as there's no precedent to the scenario you describe. Direct heirs to the throne (The Queen, Charles, William) have all married and had children very quickly. More distant heirs have married and divorced but had children along the way (Fergie, Princess Anne's ex). Assuming you mean IF Diana or Kate hadn't had children before this divorce we just don't know what would happen as it hasn't yet.

Hekatestorch · 10/09/2021 21:33

@lemonsandbakewell

So let's say as an example if the heir to the throne and his wife divorced and had no children, would the public be happy in the ex-wife continuing to receive police protection paid the taxpayer

No, but then I have issues with that in general.

Did Diana have it, when the boys weren't with her?

Its very unlikely a heir would get married and not have kids.

If you notice, they get engaged, get married soon after and, quickly, have a baby. They don't get engaged and married unless they are immediately trying for kids.

So the window for marriage to divorce, with no kids, is very small.

Wouldn't also surprise me if they have fertility tests before as well.

thedevilinablackdress · 10/09/2021 21:36

Anne of Cleves did alright. Relatively speaking.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 10/09/2021 21:48

The monarch has full legal custody of the children.

How likely would the monarch be to legally enforce this, I wonder, ie would they take full time custody of the children? Surely not.

PicsInRed · 10/09/2021 22:03

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

The monarch has full legal custody of the children.

How likely would the monarch be to legally enforce this, I wonder, ie would they take full time custody of the children? Surely not.

Both Diana and Fergie were treated pretty appallingly (and Fergie reportedly never spent Christmas day with the girls) so yes, I can believe it. Diana apparently ran her media strategy in large part to win public support in case this custody was exercised.

They don't also have to "take" as it's already the law.

Theunamedcat · 10/09/2021 22:10

Diana did have royal protection she had it removed then she died

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 10/09/2021 22:18

I don't think anyone would stop a royal wife from having a proper job - I think it would be seen as positive amongst the public and therefore the 'firm' would enjoy the positive publicity. I think it would have to be the sort of job which wouldn't expose the RF to risk, either physical or in terms of reputation - so primary school teacher in a nice private school, that's not at all controversial or potentially political, that would be acceptable, police officer, probably not.

Unfortunately, it seems that many of our royals don't want to do proper jobs and are quite happy to float about doing royal 'duties'. So I can't see it ever happening.

Hekatestorch · 10/09/2021 22:19

@Theunamedcat

Diana did have royal protection she had it removed then she died

I did realise there was so little time between the actual divorce and her death.

I am the same age as William. I thought they had been divorced a good few years.

But that must have been their separation, I am thinking of. Odd that the divorce came so long after the separation and then she died, so soon after the divorce.

Hekatestorch · 10/09/2021 22:19

I didn't realise there was so little time

B00kMark · 10/09/2021 22:25

As in, would Camilla get taxpayer paid protection if she divorced? I don’t know. I presume not but can’t think of a precedent.

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