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Did you know that this is not going to be Meghan Markle's first marriage?
Being a Royal comes with its own set of cons. Back in the day, one of the biggest cons was that of not being able to marry a person who\'s been married even once before, as long as the former spouse of this person-in-question was alive.
Being a Royal comes with its own set of cons. Back in the day, one of the biggest cons was that of not being able to marry a person who's been married even once before, as long as the former spouse of this person-in-question was alive.
With the recent announcement of Prince Harry's engagement to actress Meghan Markle, the Royals' age-old rule of not marrying a divorcee has again come to light. Why? Because Meghan Markle has been married in the past, to producer Trevor Engelson.
Meghan, now 36 years of age, was only 23 when she met Trevor, in 2004, according to reports. The two tied the knot in a Bohemian ceremony in September 2011, in Jamaica, but got divorced in 2014.
Not the first 'second marriage'
What's interesting to know, however, is the fact that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage is not going to be the first 'second marriage' in the Royal family. Harry's father, Prince Charles, had divorced Princess Diana (in 1996) before marrying Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005
Royal sacrifices' in the past
The Royal family, however, was not always open to second marriages. In 1955 Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth II's sister) was forced to sacrifice her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend, her late father's equerry, because he had an ex-wife--despite him accusing her of infidelity.
Princess Margaret was told that she would have to renounce her rights of succession in order to go through with the wedding. She ended up marrying Antony Armstrong-Jones (1st Earl of Snowdon) in 1960, choosing to stay true to "the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble".
Just 19 years before Princess Margaret's affair with Gp Capt Townsend, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated after just 326 days on the throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
King Edward VIII's decision to do so pushed the British royalty into a constitutional crisis, thanks to Church of England's teaching that remarriage is not allowed if the former spouse is still alive.
On the wings of change
Things, however, have changed for the Royal family now. The Queen giving permission for Prince Charles to marry divorcee Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005 was a case in point.
Thanks to his dad's decision to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles then, it should be smooth-sailing for Prince Harry and Meghan Markel, when they do tie the knot, expectedly in the Spring of 2018.
His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are "thrilled and happy" to be engaged. Here they appear at a photocall at Kensington Palace Gardens this afternoon, on the day their engagement is announced.
A post shared by kensington palace.
