Quote:
Originally Posted by GA Russell
I was surprised to learn this morning reading the paper that William and Kate have been living together. Surprised, because I remember that Diana's virginity appeared to be her primary qualification.
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Also her aristocratic background. Obviously this has been thrown out the window with Kate, who is very much a commoner.
The requirements for royal marriages have loosened up considerably. I think George VI was the first offspring of a monarch who wasn't required by law to marry royalty. While the Queen Mum was aristocracy, she wasn't royalty. That was fairly recent, too--just the 1920s.
Perhaps the thinking is now that at least Kate and Will know each other very well and have been together for so long that the marriage might reasonably be expected to succeed, so let's throw the rules that have caused royal marital problems in the past to the wayside. Also I think it makes them very relatable as a young couple.