# Could there be a Queen Meghan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691 "2018-05-23T18:17:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/81 "2018-05-25T21:06:40Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Chile never had a king, nor a viceroy like many colonies. Captain-General was their leader. > > And the beautiful poppies represent the ones her husband must’ve seen while operating in Afghanistan, in one of the top opium producing regions in the world. No they represent California, her home state, the California poppy being the state flower. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/82 "2018-05-27T04:47:58Z")
The Hallmark Channel was airing a sappy TV romance starring Meghan Markle just last night. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/83 "2018-05-27T12:04:10Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > There’s no complication. She’s the legally married consort of Harry, and as such qualifies for Queendom, should the occasion arise. > > Any complications arising from her divorced status would have come up at the engagement, and the Queen could have refused her consent, but she did not. There’s probably a factor of Harry’s distance from the throne here, too. Barring a real odd set of circumstances, Harry’s main task is backing up William and now William’s heirs. He seems happy in the role. But should William have come to the Queen wanting to marry a Meghan Markle equivalent - American, divorced, non-CofE - I think it might well have gone hard for him. There’s a lot more leeway for those who are NOT in direct line to inherit the crown. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/84 "2018-05-27T19:22:20Z")
What _is_ Andrew doing these days, anyhow? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/85 "2018-05-27T19:25:02Z")
> [@j666](#): > > What _is_ Andrew doing these days, anyhow? He does the royal visits to countries the UK wants to sell arms to. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/86 "2018-05-27T19:35:41Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Chile never had a king, nor a viceroy like many colonies. Captain-General was their leader. > > And the beautiful poppies represent the ones her husband must’ve seen while operating in Afghanistan, in one of the top opium producing regions in the world. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > No they represent California, her home state, the California poppy being the state flower. **Rick Kitchen** has it. They’re even two separate genera. Opium poppies are _Papaver_ and California poppies are _Eschscholzia_. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/87 "2018-05-27T21:32:02Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I thought you had to be English to be Queen (Consort) (or King (Consort)). That’s why Prince Philip wasn’t called the King Consort, or King Philip. Since most of the brides of the British monarchs were German, nationality is no obstacle to being queen. AFAIK, Wallis Simpson was due to become queen if she married Eddie, but there was a lot of muttering about her being unsuitable and the clerics wondered if they could marry a divorcee to love-smitten Eddie. So Eddie never got crowned, and the matter was moot. However, “dirty Harry” is sixth in line to the throne, so his daddy, his brother, his two cousins and his niece all have to keel over first before he can plonk his right royal bottom on the relevant chair. Not impossible, but not very likely. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/88 "2018-05-27T21:42:50Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Monaco’s traditional rules were weird, too… > Once a new Prince inherited, only his descendants could inherit. All of the collateral branches ceased to be eligible. > … > That was the Turkish Sultan, not the Byzantine Emperor. Under Ottoman law, all sons had equal inheritance rights. A new Sultan had to eliminate his brothers in order to avoid a civil war. The bit about collateral branches was the cause of the 100 Years War between England and France, and later the Wars of the Roses in England. In neither case were the claims good, but in those days people took it very seriously. The Turks got a bit kinder over time and used the “kefes” system to park unwanted siblings in what amounted to a prison inside the royal palace. The poor sap was confined there, lived indoors all the time, only had male attendants, and was not allowed to have sex with women. If said poor sap survived his sibling, he was made sultan. Needless to add, not a good one, and one or two of the last sultans of the Ottoman empire came to power this way. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/89 "2018-05-27T23:23:36Z")
The Church of England was created to permit divorce. Sort of. So Camilla of Wales can cock a snoot at them. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/90 "2018-05-27T23:52:43Z")
Annulment, not divorce. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/91 "2018-05-28T00:30:17Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > However, “dirty Harry” is sixth in line to the throne, so his daddy, his brother, his two cousins and his niece all have to keel over first before he can plonk his right royal bottom on the relevant chair. Not impossible, but not very likely. Plus his father, who is first in line to the throne, is himself married to a divorcee. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/92 "2018-05-28T00:37:43Z")
> [@j666](#): > > What _is_ Andrew doing these days, anyhow? [He’s an ideas factory.](https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/sam-leith-the-royal-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-andrew-really-does-have-a-special-place-in-our-hearts-a3709531.html) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/93 "2018-05-28T02:03:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > No they represent California, her home state, the California poppy being the state flower. > [@jayjay](#): > > **Rick Kitchen** has it. They’re even two separate genera. Opium poppies are _Papaver_ and California poppies are _Eschscholzia_. Maybe it was a lead balloon, but that was a joke. They mention California poppies in the article. Kind of a corny coat of arms. But I guess many of the original ones weren’t very inspired at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/94 "2018-05-28T03:13:47Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > …[Prince Harry] is sixth in line to the throne, so his daddy, his brother, his two **cousins** and his niece all have to keel over first before he can plonk his right royal bottom on the relevant chair. Not impossible, but not very likely. Nephews. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/95 "2018-05-28T09:54:01Z")
Well so realistically all we need for a Queen Meghan is either 1. A pandemic 2. A nuclear exchange 3. A wife swap Has any reign begun more auspiciously? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/96 "2018-05-28T10:33:45Z")
The Cambridges have traveled together [in one plane](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/5b/31/da5b31ec33db0a137853f5e6430154d2.jpg), so it could conceivably take a lot less than that. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/97 "2018-05-28T13:22:20Z")
The Queen has to give them permission: > [@](#): > > Two heirs should not fly together > Royal protocol is that two heirs should never fly on the same flight together so that the royal lineage is protected. And, despite there being no official rule in place, heirs must still seek permission from Queen Elizabeth, who has the final say on the matter. In fact, Prince William was granted permission from the Queen to bend the rules when his son was just nine months old; Prince George accompanied his parents on a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2014. In September 2016, the Cambridges also traveled as a family of four to Canada with Princess Charlotte. And in July 2017, the family toured Poland and Germany, boarding three flights together. I doubt that they will be sharing a first-class cabin with Charles anytime soon though. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/98 "2018-05-28T17:33:50Z")
There’s a guy who’s like 30th in line to the throne (I can’t remember his name right now), whose wife is named Bambi. Too bad we can’t clear the decks to make him King, so he could be married to Queen Bambi. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/99 "2018-05-28T17:48:00Z")
A follow-up. Could she still run for President if she declined to adopt British citizenship? Would Harry be eligible as First Man, or do you need to be American to be married to the President? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691/100 "2018-05-28T18:29:56Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Also, Charles has stated that if and when he succeeds to the throne, he will reign as George VII. WHAT???!!!??? They take new names for themselves, like Popes? Huh. I guess considering that the monarch holds the title Defender of the Faith, the tradition isn’t _wholly_ outlandish. But then why do they continue to eschew the name John for their baby boy princes? It’s not like they can’t just _tell_ Prince John, “Listen, if you ever ascend to the throne, you have to change your monarchical name. And it can’t be Richard!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-a-queen-meghan/814691.md?page=6)