Yes, there's effectively no legal impediment preventing members of the royal family from marrying commoners.
While historically, royal marriages were often strategic alliances aimed at securing political or economic advantages, the modern era has seen a shift towards love matches, irrespective of social standing. Here's a breakdown:
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No Legal Obstacles: There isn't any law stopping a royal from marrying someone not of royal or noble birth.
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Historical Considerations: Historically, concerns about maintaining the purity of the bloodline and securing alliances led to pressure for royals to marry within royal families or the aristocracy.
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The Royal Marriages Act (now repealed in part): The Royal Marriages Act of 1772 attempted to control royal marriages, but it was largely repealed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
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The Succession to the Crown Act 2013: This act requires only the first six in line to the throne to obtain the monarch's approval to marry. If they marry without approval, they are disqualified from succession. This doesn't prevent the marriage itself, just impacts succession.
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Examples: Many modern royals have married commoners. Some notable examples include:
- Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, initially faced obstacles in marrying Peter Townsend, a commoner, due to his previous divorce.
- Prince William married Catherine Middleton, who was not of royal descent.
- Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, an American actress.
In conclusion, while there may be historical or social considerations, the legal framework allows royals to marry individuals of their choosing, although the first six in line to the throne must obtain the monarch's permission to maintain their place in the line of succession.
