[Niall]

I keep thinking what would happen if, at some point in the future, an heir to the throne came out as gay, or someone high up in Royal Family came out as gay. Would they cover it up? Or would they let it stay out in the open?

Its inevitable that it will happen at some point down the line, I just wonder what the reaction would be. I.e, if the heir to the throne was gay, would he/she be allowed to marry the partner of their choice? Or be forced to remain solitary or even abdicate the throne? These questions keep flying round my head. I can't help wondering what would happen.

(I wasn't really sure where to put this either, so I thought serious debates would be best idk.)

[Ramsay]

they'd never let it out

[Kizzy]

Ask eddie...

[Vicky.]

I would like to think it wouldnt matter one bit

But in reality I think it would be covered up and they would marry someone of the opposite sex and just act happy in public :/

[arista]

Originally Posted by Karl

they'd never let it out

Bang On Right

[joeysteele]

There have been many rumours as to Monarchs in history but in the end it would very likely be kept as quiet as possible, they would likely still marry since producing an heir is a strong element of being a Monarch.

I would like to think though that the day will come and maybe it will once we enter the William and Harry generation of Royalty that it just won't matter and that a Monarch who was gay and wanted to rule alone would do so and then after them,the next succession fall to the Brothers or Sisters and their family as to succession to the throne in the future.

It is more than likely,still at the present time, that a heir to the throne who was gay would be encouraged to marry and have at least one child,thereby being in a marriage of convenience, sad but that is what I believe would likely happen at this moment in time.

[Livia]

Things change slowly, and nowhere moreso than within the Royal Family. They've only just recently changed the law to allow females to become heir to the throne over their younger brothers. The heir to the throne divorced and then remarried a divorcee. That would have been unheard of years ago.

Only a few decades ago you could be imprisoned for being homosexual. Now, gay people are accepted and integrated to the extent that we have openly gay MPs in the House of Commons... and quite rightly so. The Royal Family will continue to progress. They're changing and updating themselves all the time - even if it is at a snail's pace.

[MTVN]

Wasn't William II openly gay

[Marsh.]

They'd cover it up or abdicate. They couldn't openly remain on the throne as gay entirely because of the heir they would have to have themselves.

I mean look at the complete mess that went on with Prince Charles keeping his relationship with Camilla a secret because he had to marry an unmarried virgin to have his heir.

Although, having said that things are always evolving and changing. Especially with their very limited power these days the rules will get a lot more "accepting" for want of a better term. The main thing standing in the way would be the fact that they remain head of the Church of England.

But then you can't forget that a King created this church purely to bend the rules and do as he pleases. In conclusion, anything could happen.

[Harry!]

The Monarch is also the head of the Church which as you may know is controlled by the religious beliefs and of course are not warm towards gay people. It would be very complicated.

[Firewire]

They'd probably cover it up if it happened now, but maybe in the future when homosexuality is more accepted they mightn't feel the need to hide it.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Wasn't William II openly gay

Maybe. I imagine in the 12th century you could do pretty much what you liked if you were king.