- King Duarte II nephew marries brother of Mohammed V
SPANISH TOWN - Prince Henrique, son of the Duke of Coimbra, has married his Moroccan lover, Moroccan royal Prince Moulai in the Canadian province of Jamaica's Cathedral of Saint James, after Pope Innocent XIV refused to dispense for the marriage between the Catholic and Muslim princes.
Hmm. Interesting article, no? Assume it's from an alternate May 2009
Discuss.
I'm actually surprised the Duke decided to marry, since his history of scandalous affairs didn't indicate he would one day calm down and have a stable relationship.
The fact that he married Moulai doesn't make him to be out of the line of succession. If the king's children (Pedro, Prince of Beira, and Maria, Duchess of Beja) and Duarte's father, Fernando, Duke of Viseu, eventually die or renounce to their rights Henrique can become king, regardeless of his union to Moulai or even his conversion to the Anglican faith. Officially the succession need to be approved by the Portuguese Parliament, not by the Pope, and even though the Catholic Church still have a lot of influence in Portugal, the secularism is high and acceptance of homossexuals has raised a lot. And there is no article in the Laws of Succession or in the Constitution stating that the king need to be Catholic or straight. Also, despite what the tabloids had written before about his life, the Duke is quite popular among the young and urban people, and probably would be an interestig monarch (althought I desire it doesn't happen, since I wish the best to prince Pedro and Princess Maria).
So, I give my blessings to the couple, and I hope that no crazy religious nut decide to destroy their happiness.