The hypothetical question of Prince William living with his girlfriend

[CATS]

They have together under the same roof for 3 years, so I don't think it should make a whole lot of differance. Yes, there were 2 others living there, but where there is a will there is way. I would chose to not live with my boyfriend, but then I'm not them.

[sara1981]

i already knew! because William still with Kate since college years and both lived house till end of college years because both been roommate and more trust as companion but im trust Prince Charles!

Sara Boyce

[Emily]

If William knows he must marry an "aristocratic girl" don't you think he'll catch alot of flak if he does do that and dumps the "less than aristocratic girl"?

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Emily

If William knows he must marry an "aristocratic girl" don't you think he'll catch alot of flak if he does do that and dumps the "less than aristocratic girl"?

He is young and entitled to have a relationship with a girl and live together. But that's very different than marrying her. It would be expected for him to marry an aristocrat and produce heirs with appropriate bloodlines. He would catch a heck of a lot more flak marrying a girl whose mother was a flight attendant.

[iowabelle]

I think that, unless William falls in love with an aristocrat, he's not going to be looking at bloodlines.

After all, while his mother might have had the bloodlines and the virginity, that was hardly a great success.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

I think that, unless William falls in love with an aristocrat, he's not going to be looking at bloodlines.

After all, while his mother might have had the bloodlines and the virginity, that was hardly a great success.

He won't have a choice, which he knows is part of his duty in being King.

[Kat]

Originally Posted by branchg

He is young and entitled to have a relationship with a girl and live together. But that's very different than marrying her. It would be expected for him to marry an aristocrat and produce heirs with appropriate bloodlines. He would catch a heck of a lot more flak marrying a girl whose mother was a flight attendant.

Hmm, I think he'd catch alot of flak either way. His mother might have been an aristocrat, but I think she, with all her attempts to give her sons as normal a childhood as possible, must have instilled something in him to make him want to flaunt convention, since Kate does not seem to be the conventional Royal girlfriend.

I figure he probably see's the situation as "If I marry an aristocrat for the sake of marrying an aristocrat, then, Kate (the girl I love) and all my Mother's supporters are going to cry foul and If I marry someone like Kate, because I love her, all the monarchy supporters are going to cry the same thing. My Mother (probably) always told me to marry for love, so I think I'll do just that!"

What ever he decides I think he probably knows what he's doing and knows how to deal with it. Either that or he doesn't care, but he's old enough to know the ways of the world.

For me, it doesn't matter so much what he decides to do. It's really just his life & his decision, and although it affects his public image, to my mind, it doesn't really affect that much else.

[HRH Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Kat

For me, it doesn't matter so much what he decides to do. It's really just his life & his decision, and although it affects his public image, to my mind, it doesn't really affect that much else.

It doesn't affect much else who he chooses to make the future queen of the UK? The thing is, as it has been pointed out, he will wield little real political power as king - his public image is a very large part of his job because he is the embodiment of Britain's public image.

[HMQueenElizabethII]

If it said that The Queen and his father already gave the permission so i have nothing to comment anymore.But i think as the role of the Future King, it can not be compared to his uncle Prince Edward or Zara and Peter Phillips.

[Emily]

I tend to agree with iowabelle. I am sure William is going to be aware of the bloodlines of any woman he falls in love with, but following the disastrous marriage of his father, I think a well bred, upper middle class woman with a good head on her shoulders that he is truly in love with, will take precedence over a marriage just for "aristocratic" bloodlines. And I think such a marriage would receive support from both Prince Charles and the Queen. "The times they are a changin'" and I really think "bloodlines" just aren't what they used to be. Sure, there are still many old money snobs out there who believe in "bloodlines" but I have more confidence in the British Royal family's ideas on who William can marry, especially after the Charles/Diana debacle, than to believe they would necessarily make an aristocrat a criterion for marriage. None of the Queen's children is married to a true aristocrat and we are a generation removed from that. But -- we shall see -- I surely could be quite wrong.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Emily

And I think such a marriage would receive support from both Prince Charles and the Queen. "The times they are a changin'" and I really think "bloodlines" just aren't what they used to be. Sure, there are still many old money snobs out there who believe in "bloodlines" but I have more confidence in the British Royal family's ideas on who William can marry, especially after the Charles/Diana debacle, than to believe they would necessarily make an aristocrat a criterion for marriage. None of the Queen's children is married to a true aristocrat and we are a generation removed from that. But -- we shall see -- I surely could be quite wrong.

It doesn't matter what Prince Charles or the Queen thinks. The monarchy reigns, but does not rule. The Government and the Establishment will do everything in their power to ensure the Crown stays strong and never diminshes. That way they can continue to exercise the royal perogative any way they want to.

If William's proposed marriage to a commoner was not accepted by the Establishment, he would be told in no uncertain terms to move on to another candidate. If not, they will force him to renounce his place in the line of succession. This is the way it is.

[Idriel]

Originally Posted by branchg

If William's proposed marriage to a commoner was not accepted by the Establishment, he would be told in no uncertain terms to move on to another candidate. If not, they will force him to renounce his place in the line of succession. This is the way it is.

I'm totally bemused by your statement. The Establishment (and I would be very glad if you explain what exactly you mean by this) would not let the monarchy be weakened by a future King marrying a commoner?
And Camilla? Is she the secret daughter of the Queen of Sheba? You really can't do more common than her (in every sense of the world) and she will be the next Queen (not bad for the daughter of a wine merchant). I haven't heard the "Establishment" protest too much. As far as British marriages are concerned, it's pretty obvious that Charles set new standards: if he was able to marry a woman as loaded as Camilla, now William can marry whoever he wants.
Beside, I really think you're over estimating the power of the Establishment (whatever it means) over the BRF. It's not the 30's anymore. To kick off William out of the succession line, they will need a very good reason (and that would be a suicide for the monarchy to do so IMO).

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Idriel

I'm totally bemused by your statement. The Establishment (and I would be very glad if you explain what exactly you mean by this) would not let the monarchy be weakened by a future King marrying a commoner?

The Establishment is usually considered to be the senior politicians, civil servants, royal advisors, aristocrats, bishops and archbishops, leaders of the armed forces, and other such people who form a tight-knit little group at the top of society.

And Camilla? Is she the secret daughter of the Queen of Sheba?

Now there's an interesting mental picture...

You really can't do more common than her (in every sense of the world) and she will be the next Queen (not bad for the daughter of a wine merchant).

However, her family (on both sides) is upper class rather than the middle class that Sophie came from.

Beside, I really think you're over estimating the power of the Establishment (whatever it means) over the BRF. It's not the 30's anymore. To kick off William out of the succession line, they will need a very good reason (and that would be a suicide for the monarchy to do so IMO).

Yes, I think the media is a lot more powerful than it was. We're way past the days when there could be gentlemen's agreements between the powers that be at the Palace and the editors of the majr newpapers to suppress or manipulate news. These days the editors seem to take great joy in embarrassing the royal family whenever possible, and there's going to be much less likelihood of the media and the Establishment getting together to manipulate public opinion. They did a very good hatchet job on Edward VIII, but I don't see it being possible in this day and age.

[Regina]

Prince Filip of Belgium married with an aristocratic lady (Princess Mathilde) and I think he did what he had to do: find a person he really loved but someone who belonged to the aristocracy. And they seem to be a very happy couple! I think William should do the same.
Prince William will be the King of England and the Head of his Church. He should behave by the norms of this church, so he should marry first.
And I would like that someone could reply to me: who is gonna pay the expenses of Kate?

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Regina

Prince Filip of Belgium married with an aristocratic lady (Princess Mathilde) and I think he did what he had to do: find a person he really loved but someone who belonged to the aristocracy. And they seem to be a very happy couple! I think William should do the same.
Prince William will be the King of England and the Head of his Church. He should behave by the norms of this church, so he should marry first.
And I would like that someone could reply to me: who is gonna pay the expenses of Kate?

William will do the same at some point in the future. He's already made clear he is too young to get married, so I think it's a very big leap to assume that he and Kate are headed for Westminster Abbey just because they are living together again.

As far as expenses go, I'm sure everything will be taken care of by William. Kate is not going to be expected to contribute to the household expenses of a multimillionaire grandson of the Sovereign.

[delineate]

Like it or hate it, this is their life, not ours; therefore they can conduct their relationship however they want. Me personally, I wouldn't take too kindly to people's "advice" about good or bad our relationship will turn out just because of our living arrangements. It's really nobody else's business.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by branchg

William will do the same at some point in the future. He's already made clear he is too young to get married, so I think it's a very big leap to assume that he and Kate are headed for Westminster Abbey just because they are living together again.

As far as expenses go, I'm sure everything will be taken care of by William. Kate is not going to be expected to contribute to the household expenses of a multimillionaire grandson of the Sovereign.

IMO, is not good William lives with Kate before marriage, and would worst if in the end he doesn't marry her. I don't think british people would be happy to pay her expenses since she isn't his official fiancee.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Regina

I don't think british people would be happy to pay her expenses since she isn't his official fiancee.

The British public will not be paying for William's expenses and he has millions of his own private money (a trust from the Queen Mother and another from Princess Diana) to utilize. That's not an issue.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by branchg

The British public will not be paying for William's expenses and he has millions of his own private money (a trust from the Queen Mother and another from Princess Diana) to utilize. That's not an issue.

If Kate starts to live with William, the Royal House will pay for her security not William. And the Royal House is mantained by public money, so yes that's an issue.

[iowabelle]

I think William is a pretty strong-willed individual and will make his own choice. I am sure that he won't go out of his way to pick an unsuitable girl (like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and their kind).

A major difference from his father is that William has been out in more of the "real world". He's had an opportunity to meet other people -- of course, most of the people he has met have money and privilege.