A King In Love

AUTHOR’S NOTEMorganatic marriages amongst European Royalty were often very successful. A morganatic marriage is an approved, legally valid marriage between two people of unequal social rank, usually between a higher-ranking man to a woman of lesser social status, which usually prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife. Although any children born of the marriage union are considered legitimate, they traditionally have no claim on the property, titles, etc. of their Royal parent. Essentially a German institution, it was adopted by some dynasties outside Germany, but not by those of France or England. Historical morganatic marriages include His Highness Prince Alexander of Hesse, who eloped with Julie Countess Van Hanke, a girl who was not even of noble birth. She was made Her Serene Highness Princess of Battenburg and was the founder of the great and glorious Royal Family of Battenburg-Mountbatten. Another, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge and a cousin of Queen Victoria, married Louisa Fairbrother, a graceful dancer, and was very happy with her. Finally, His Majesty King Alexander of Greece secretly married Aspasia Manos, the daughter of his father’s aide-de-camp. She was given no rank or title, but unusually their daughter became Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Greece. Nowadays times have changed in the United Kingdom and Royals are no longer required to marry Royals and marriages between Royals and those of lesser ranking birth are not considered morganatic. For example, Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton, a commoner, became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon their marriage on 29th April 2011. Camilla Parker Bowles, second wife of The Prince of Wales, legally holds the title Princess of Wales, but at the time that the engagement was announced it was declared that she would be known by the title Duchess of Cornwall, derived from one of the other titles her husband holds as Heir Apparent. It was also stated that if her husband accedes to the throne, she will be known as Princess Consort rather than Queen, although as the King’s wife she would legally be Queen.