King Charles III

???

Quite right Calli. So many women still refer to themselves as common law wives, believing they have some sort of recognised status, and find out the hard way, when the partner leaves them or dies, that they have no status or rights at all.

Yes volver I have come across irregular marriage when doing my husband’s family tree. One of his ancestors had one. Very interesting. Perfectly valid.

Some might find it romantic that a couple see themselves as linked to each other forever by making their own vows between themselves with a priest present. Especially when they know they are going to do the establishment thing 3 days later.

Some might think its unforgiveable because marriage is all about money and wills and religion.

Volver wrote:

"Some people don't need the state, the paperwork and the big sky fairy to feel that they are married."

It works when earning power or psychologial power is equally distributed between the spouses and neither needs the law to protect their partnership rights.

It's fine unless one partner dies and there is no will.

Common-law marriage does not exist in Scotland.

No idea.

There was however, irregular marriage, until 1932. My great grandparents had one.

I was interested to see volver refer to common law marriage. There is no such thing in England or Wales. Is it a legally recognised status in Scotland?

Yep. Pretty much. It's the end of civilisation as we know it.

If one feels married is the same as being married then one can
be next of kin because they feel next of kin

What is the problem with M and H exchanging their vows in a personal and private way that was meaningful to them? They then went through the whole public pantomime that was expected of them - public happy, M and H happy .... what's not to like, as they say?

Why was it a mistake to tell people? If she hadn't and it was discovered she would have finished up being accused of hiding things - she can't win for sure!

Oh well if you only have to feel married. ??? DH and I shared a washing machine at the laundrette for a while as a money saving necessity and that certainly ‘felt’ like being married!

It only matters for MM because she made the mistake or not of publicising it.

So she meant we felt married 3 days before we married

Some couples used to 'jump the broomstick' in England and Wales in the 1800s.

It is if it's a common law marriage or a Scottish irregular marriage. But to be fair, they haven't been allowed since 1932.

Feeling married isnt the same as being married.

Some people don't need the state, the paperwork and the big sky fairy to feel that they are married.

Anniebach

An informal exchange of vows ? Yes it happens, it happens
when a couple have their meeting with the priest before their
wedding, it’s called a rehearsal.

A priest cannot say what took place during a conversation with
anyone he/she has a private meeting with.

It's a rehearsal. We had one.
You could repeat the vows as often as you want
It's not usually a dress rehearsal.

However, it's not a legal marriage unless there are two witnesses and the register is signed by the celebrant, the couple and the witnesses.

No, a rehearsal is called a rehearsal.

An exchange of vows is called an exchange of vows.

?

An informal exchange of vows ? Yes it happens, it happens
when a couple have their meeting with the priest before their
wedding, it’s called a rehearsal.

A priest cannot say what took place during a conversation with
anyone he/she has a private meeting with.

It is a lovely thing to do and will be appreciated by those who have valued this opportunity to pay their respects.

Just watched Prince Edward and Sophie on a lengthy walk about outside Buckingham palace. Sophie is enthusiastically shaking hands with everyone but Edward appears to be declining handshakes. I wonder if he has a painful hand. It was a pity one of his aides didn’t go ahead of him and advise people he wouldn’t be handshaking. It looked rather awkward when he was ignoring outstretched hands.

King Charles and Prince William appeared and greeted the well wishers queueing to see the Queen lying in state. What a wonderful thing to do although the cynical will say what a wonderful publicity stunt.

nation.cymru/news/real-democracy-now-anti-monarchy-protest-to-greet-king-as-he-visits-cardiff-tomorrow/

A silent protest against the monarchy will take place in Cardiff as King Charles III visits the city tomorrow, September 16.

The protestors are meeting outside Cardiff Castle at 1pm to stand together, holding posters with the slogans: ‘Why a Monarchy? Divine Right of Kings? Real democracy now’.

Campaigners want the Welsh public to consider whether a different future, without the monarchy, is possible.

“As soon as King Charles III decided to announce that Prince William should become Prince of Wales, so soon after the death of the Queen, many of us felt compelled to respond,” Bethan Sayed, a former MS for Plaid Cymru and activist said.

“We must discuss the future of Wales, and what we want that to look like. Support for independence is on the rise, in two weeks a march and rally for independence will be held on the very streets that the new king will travel on.

“We need a National conversation about why the Royal family are born to lead over us. Why are we not fit to govern ourselves? Do we want to have a Wales free of the Monarchy? If so, what can that look like?

“People tell us that now is not the time to discuss this issue, however, when the monarchy passes from the incumbent to a new King, now is exactly the time to discuss this matter. It is about fairness, equality, and the Wales we want to shape for future generations.”

A petition against continuing with the Prince of Wales title has now hit 25,000 signatures, just under a week since it was started.

‘Now is the time to discuss’

Labour for an Independent Wales is supporting the action.

“Like our leader Mark Drakeford, we are republicans,” a representative said.

“Now is the best time to discuss how unfair the monarchy is and how unfitting it is for the 21st Century Wales we’re all building.

“Soon 67% of Welsh people will live in fuel poverty while the royals inherit millions, tax free. Our democracy is weakened by their presence and so, ultimately, we push for an independent, socialist, republic of Wales.”

Adam Johannes, organiser of recent protests in Cardiff over rising energy bills said: “Why so much promotion of an unelected Head of State as a common good?

“Is it so we accept as natural, good and right unelected owners of multinational corporations, unelected bankers, the whole panoply of unelected and unaccountable institutions that control and rule over our daily lives in today’s society?

“Do we want to live in a state of permanent austerity with undemocratic trappings like monarchy? Or a democratic republic guaranteeing every citizen the right to adequate food, housing and income.

“Let’s abolish the monarchy, expand democracy, and use the money we save to help people during the cost-of-living crisis.”

‘We need a debate’

Trade Unionist Cerith Griffiths said: “A lot has changed since Queen Elizabeth was crowned over 70 years ago.

“Significantly Wales now has its own Parliament and can pass legislation that makes a difference to those who live in Wales. In 2016 several aspects of the Trade Union Act were dis-applied in Wales but now the Westminster government is overruling those decisions taken by an elected Welsh government.

“If we truly value democracy, then we need to have a debate about the role of the monarchy, and whether them enabling the government of another country overruling the democratic decisions taken here in Wales, really is fit for the 21st century.”

Campaigners are calling upon Welsh Government and Cardiff Council leaders to ask the police to respect the democratic right to protest, given the example of the London Barrister Paul Powlesland, who was threatened with arrest if he wrote ‘Not my King’ on a blank piece of white paper in London this week.