What Would Happen If Prince William and Kate Middleton Got Divorced?
It’s almost too horrible to think about. Still, the recent rumors of a cheating scandal have royal family fans hoping the best but planning for the worst.
For now, the rumors are unproven, and some news outlets are hesitant to report on the alleged relationship between Prince William and Rose Hanbury, Kate’s former best friend. Kensington Palace declined to comment. The whole incident raised the simple question: what exactly would happen if Prince William and Kate Middleton got divorced, anyway?
Well, besides the millions of heartbroken people around the world, there are a few practical things that would transpire if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge parted ways. Find out exactly what would happen ahead.
Royal divorces happen all the time
Most people get married with the intention of staying together forever – though sadly, we’ve learned that it doesn’t always work out that way. In the case of Prince William and Kate Middleton, they probably put more thought and reflection into their relationship than some other couples. That’s because they already knew Prince William would become king one day.
Still, even Prince William’s own father got divorced, along with several other prominent royal family members. It’s certainly something that could happen – especially if Prince William really did cheat on his wife.
Kate Middleton would no longer be a member of the royal family
The Duchess of Cambridge might be allowed to keep her title in the wake of a divorce just like Princess Diana did. But that decision would be in the hands of the reigning monarch. For now, it’s Queen Elizabeth and eventually it will be Prince Charles.
However, title aside, Kate would no longer be a true member of the royal family if she and Prince William legally ended their marriage. She’d be free from all that pressure — but also stripped of all the perks of having HRH before her name.
She would get a settlement of money
Kate Middleton came from a well-off family
Like Princess Diana, Kate Middleton would be entitled to financial compensation if she split from Prince William. However, this amount is typically dictated by how long the couple has been married. Since she’s only been wed to the future king since 2011, she’ll get less money than others who were married longer before divorcing.
Kate won’t be left homeless
Just like she won’t be left penniless, Kate Middleton won’t be left homeless, either. The Duchess of Cambridge can expect to be gifted a home that’s close to the royal enclave so shared custody won’t be a hassle. Maybe even the family apartment at Kensington Palace.
Would she want to live so close to her ex-husband? That all depends on the reason for their separation and how each person handles it. But she won’t be able to just escape since she’ll need to get permission from Prince William to bring their children anywhere outside of the United Kingdom.
The press won’t leave her alone
Think Kate Middleton will finally get a break from the spotlight if she gets divorced? Think again. The paparazzi famously harassed Princess Diana even more post-divorce than they did while she and Prince Charles were still married. It’s reasonable to assume that the same would hold true for Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Would Will and Kate really get divorced?
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge broke up after dating for a while but say that their relationship after was stronger than ever. It seems very unlikely that they’d separate again – even with a scandal brewing.
Setting aside the fact that there’s no proof of an affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury, there’s also no guarantee that Kate would leave him if he was unfaithful. Plenty of women have forgiven their partners for infidelity. Even if he did cheat – there’s a lot at stake for the royal couple. It’s possible she’ll stay with him anyway.
But if Prince William got into a long-term relationship with someone else while he was married — like Prince Charles did with Camilla Parker-Bowles – then it could prove too much for Kate to bear.
Only time will tell!
