HM Queen Catherine
Nobility
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2009
- Messages
- 302
- City
- Rendsburg
- Country
- Germany
I have a question about the current situation, if Kate (or Cathereine, whichever is appropriate now) were to attend an official function in her capacity of the soveregn's son's future daughter-in-law, what will her precedence be?
I'm asking becouse for example Letizia Ortiz were seated next to her fiancé in the mass after terrorist attacks in Madrid and Charlene Wittstock was just behind the Princesses Stephanie and Caroline...
Just curious..
If Catherine should attend an official function before she becomes William's wife, I would think she enters with him as the female counterpart to his position in precedence. This position, of course, would be given out of courtesy to both her and William.
In the medieval past, a couple were considered "married" when they were formally betrothed or married by proxy, which was a ceremony performed before the actual wedding. But from the point of betrothal, the lady could officially take her future husband's rank and title.
For example, when Catherine of Aragon was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, in 1499 she was known as the Princess of Wales in Spain before she ever set foot on English soil.. and before she even met Arthur.
Catherine Middleton's family is not titled nor are they a knightly family, and as her father is not an MBE, OBE or a member of some other order (that I'm aware of), she has no current place at all in the order of precedence.
From the examples you've given, I would say that some of the royal houses still observe and acknowledge the position and place for a lady officially engaged to marry into it. In the case of Monaco, it is appropriate that Charlene Wittstock enter behind Princess Caroline, because Caroline is the current heir presumptive.. she would not enter with Prince Albert because he is the ruling Prince.. but I am not familiar with their rules of precedence.
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