Edward and Katharine, Duke & Duchess of Kent, their family

[Michael_II]

Well over a year ago it was announced that the Duke and Duchess were filing for divorce.  Have they actually divorced as yet? or is it still in the process?

[Viscount]

The Duke and Duchess of Kent are still married and have never filed for divorce.

I believe that they almost live different lives.... she is teaching children as "Katherine Kent".  Since she has become a Catholic and is no doubt aware of the damage another Royal divorce would do... let alone the views of the Catholic church...  I would think divorce is very unlikely.


The Viscount

[Alicky1872]

Wasn't it just that they officially anounced their separation a year ago?

[grandduchessella]

Yes. Now she's mostly seen only a personal family events like the funeral of Angus Ogilvy (Alexandra Kent's husband).

[jfkhaos]

I read the rumors that seem to multiply during that time period but had no idea an official separation had been announced.  Would this kind of announcement have been issed by HM or by the Kents themselves?

[CHRISinUSA]

The Queen's own website can be considered the ultimate indicator of such matters.  As usual, the website handles this situation very subtly, but clearly.  Compare the way it describes the Duchesses of Glouchester and Kent.

HRH The Duchess of GlouchesterThe Duchess of Gloucester, formerly Birgitte Eva van Deurs, was born on 20 June 1946, in Odense, Denmark.


HRH The Duchess of Kent
Katharine, Duchess of Kent was born on 22 February 1933, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Sir William Worsley.

The Duchess of Kent's style is one typically reserved for a widowed or divorced duchess, however, she officially retains the HRH status.  So, the Queen has consented to allow her to adopt this style, but no official change in her status has occurred.  I'd call that quietly separated.

Given the circumstances of her religion, their royal status, and of course their families, it would not be surprising if the Kents remained married and quietly led separate lives.  It happens with many couples.

[Grantj]

If the Duke and Duchess were to have their marriage annulled, and I don't think that will happen, how would that affect their children with regard to the succesion.  I know that their eldest son is no longer in the line of succession due to his marriage, but what about his siblings.  Would their rights be removed?  I think that an annulment is different from divorce because it's as if the wedding didn't take place in the first place.  This is probably a stupid question, but I thought that I would ask anyway!

Grantj

[Kristina]

I think Granduchessella is right and that an annulment is simply out of the question.  As such, their childrens'- and grandchildrens'- places in the line of succession will remain as they are.  
Also,don't forget that the Duke and Duchess of Kent's younger son, Lord Nicholas Windsor, has become a Catholic in recent years, so is no longer in the line of accession.

[grandduchessella]

Interesting how many in the Kent family are drawn to Catholicism--the Duchess, her youngest son as well as her eldest. Since he is the future Duke of Kent, it looks like the Kent dukedom will become a Catholic one since the children are being raised as Catholics. Did the Earl of St Andrews (his current title) himself convert?

[Grantj]

Thanks for that Grandduchessella.  I too don't think that the Duke and Duchess will obtain a declaration of nullity.  As you say, the current situation would appear to suit them both well and that's the most important thing.  My mind tends to go off on a tangent and I was interested to learn if such an action would have any implications on their children, obviously excluding those already barred from the succession.  I had thought that they should themselves be unaffected but wasn't sure whether that would be the case.

Once again, thanks

Grantj

[Grace]

They're not getting a divorce or an annulment...what grounds could a couple married for over 40 years and with three children possibly have for an annulment?...absurd...

[Grace]

Well, they would be very odd grounds, IMO.

The Catholic faith is based on the Bible which is the word of God.  God teaches that Christian marriage is indissoluble.

Catholic marriage annulment is a man-made convenience so that people of that faith can remarry again with a clear conscience.

But I am not saying this in relation to the Kents at all as, to my knowledge, they are not even legally separated.

[Grace]

Well, that's the point everyone's making--it's not going to happen. It's an academic discussion dealing with the ramifications of her conversion.

She would have grounds on the basis that she married a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic ceremony and while she herself wasn't Catholic at the time if it was really important to her, like if she wanted to remarry in the Church, it would be grounds. It's not absurd, it's just highly unlikely and improbable--which we've all taken pains to stress.

Please be kind enough not to patronise me in this fashion.

Thank you.

[ChristineM]

This is not the place to debate religious doctrine.  

Hypothetical speculation regarding the status of the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, is precisely that - hypothetical.

Please leave the topic alone.   This is a very personal, painful subject for those involved.   There is absolutely no need for total strangers to nibble round the edges guessing what's going on inside a relationship.  

The situation was made perfectly clear a few years ago.   The Duke and Duchess of Kent are no longer living together.

tsaria

[grandduchessella]

Please be kind enough not to patronise me in this fashion.

Thank you.

I didn't regard it as patronizing but if you did apologies. I would hope you would extend the same courtesy since I found rather offensive the remark about the Catholic faith & it's stand on marriage and calling a reasoned explaination about the facts of a Catholic annulment 'absurd'.

The discussion prior with no debate on my part about their internal relationship--I tried expressly to point that out in every post.

I have no interest in whether or not one would be sought but rather how the change of religion could impact it.  I am going to abide by Tsaria's wishes and end the discussion--at least my part and have even  removed my posts because it's not worth it.

I had tried to steer a question towards whether or not the Dukedom will become a Catholic one due to the marriage and children of the Earl of St Andrew's but that garnered no response. Only that portion of any of my posts will remain as I thought it was interesting since there are so few--the Duke of Portland I believe was mentioned as the highest ranking (non-clergy Catholic) around the time of the discussion of the Papal funeral.