What If Kate Middleton and Prince William Divorced?

It was the royal wedding everyone had been waiting for — Prince William and Kate Middleton. The future king of England tied the knot with Kate in April 2011 at the iconic Westminster Abbey. Over the next decade, the couple would welcome three children and take on the role of being England’s future.

In April 2023, they celebrated their 12th anniversary, sharing a loving snap of the two on social media. They wrote in the caption, “12 years,” with a heart emoji, showing the love is still there. However, as picture-perfect as their marriage may seem, it hasn’t always been easy.

The rumors and gossip surrounding their marriage have made many question whether Prince William and Kate are as happy as they seem. Affair speculation connected William with Kate’s former friend, Rose Hanbury. Despite Hanbury denying the affair, it hasn’t stopped people from believing it happened, causing some to question the royal couple’s marriage.

In 2022, an erroneous article announced the couple was splitting. Although it was untrue, it sparked conversation about a potential divorce. What would happen if the royal couple split? Let’s delve into the potential aftermath if Kate and William ever called it quits.

As long as King Charles remains the monarch, he would oversee custody matters regarding Prince William and Kate Middleton’s kids if they ever divorced. According to royal expert Marlene Koenig, an old royal rule dating back to King George I would give King Charles a say in the custody of their three children.

Despite this, Koenig suggested that Charles is understanding about Prince William and Prince Harry’s desire to parent on their own terms. Previous royal divorces, like those of King Charles and Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, saw Queen Elizabeth II allowing them to delegate co-parenting. Thus, it’s believed that William and Kate would be given the same grace.

After a breakup, you might want to start a new life in a different city or country. However, Kate Middleton wouldn’t have this option if she were to split from Prince William. It seems unlikely that she would leave the UK completely, as she was born and raised in England. But if she desired to move to another country, she would need King Charles’ permission.

Due to their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, whose custody technically falls under King Charles, Kate would need permission to move. Much like Princess Diana had to get approval from Queen Elizabeth II for travel, Kate would also need to seek permission, especially given the children’s importance to the country.

Kate Middleton has lived a lavish life even before marrying Prince William. Her parents created the successful business, Party Pieces, allowing the Middletons to enjoy a life of luxury. If she were to call it quits with Prince William, she wouldn’t face financial difficulties thanks to her family’s wealth. Yet, Kate would likely still receive some compensation from Prince William.

The amount depends on the duration of the marriage. When King Charles and Princess Diana divorced, Diana received 17 million British pounds and an additional 400,000 pounds annually. Since Kate and William have been married for a shorter period than Charles and Diana were, Kate would probably receive less in a settlement.

Kate Middleton has held numerous titles over the years. Marrying Prince William in 2011 earned her the title of Her Royal Highness, along with duchess titles like Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, and Duchess of Cambridge. If she divorced William, her titles could change or even be taken away.

King Charles would oversee what Kate’s titles would be post-divorce. When Charles and Princess Diana divorced, it was up to Queen Elizabeth II to decide if Diana would retain the title of princess. Despite Charles’ pushback, Elizabeth allowed Diana to keep the princess title but not Her Royal Highness. Following this precedent, Charles might act similarly if Kate and William divorced.

If Prince William ever divorced Kate Middleton, remarrying would be easier. For centuries, royal family divorces were frowned upon. For instance, King Edward abdicated the throne to marry a divorcee, and Queen Elizabeth II forbade her sister Princess Margaret from marrying a divorced man. However, things changed in 2002 when the Church of England allowed remarriages after divorce.

After his divorce from Princess Diana, Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. Though it was acceptable, they opted for an intimate civil ceremony instead of a big religious one. Thus, William would be able to remarry, although it might still be looked down upon.

If William divorced Kate and chose not to remarry or was single when ascending the throne, he could still rule. History has seen four monarchs who never married and 13 who married after ascension. Prince William would certainly have options if he and Kate ever called it quits.

However, royal fanatics hope they never see that happen.