My Mil Asked Me Today......... Re William And Kate

[Smowball]

She said " What if , when Kate gave birth, the baby was severely disabled/handicapped? Has this ever happened to royalty and how would they handle it/what is the protocol?"

I didnt have an answer. Any ideas?

[Delaval]

Quite, boxtops. Mental defectiveness is one thing (Incapax regni) but physical disability is another.

[magsmay]

A severely handicapped royal child is hardly likely to pop out unexpected. She will undergo more tests than usual for a woman of her age, including I would think an Amniocentesis test. If any severe abnormalities are present in the Fetus then she will be offered a termination like every pregnant woman in the same position. I would think in that case pressure on the couple would be to terminate but whether they would comply would be another matter. Another point is that the future heir has to be fit for purpose and if they are not then the second in line takes over (just my thoughts here)

[daffy654]

There is never pressure to terminate a pregnancy because of disability! Where are you people getting your antiquated ideas from?

[boxtops]

I'm horrified, daffy!

[magsmay]

@daffy -read my post again please before you spit your dummy out ;-) I said she woud be OFFERED a termination like any woman in that position would be if the test was done at 12 -14 weeks. The pressure would be from the Royal family not the doctors!!

[dotty.]

watching this short film i get the impression he was a very sad and defeated man........maybe it's just the music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag-e5ziCylw

[RATTER15]

I think the child would be brought as any other royal child would with the obvious limitations.

[Delaval]

Thank you Dot for providing that. As I said, he was not much in the public eye as third son of the sovereign. I suppose he will be remembered simply because his wife was the longest ever living royal.

[THECORBYLOON]

If the Monarch is incapacitated, mentally or physically, the 1937 Regency Act would apply and the next in line, as long as they were over 18 would be appointed as Regent, a later Act was passed but that applies only to the present monarch so the 1937 Act applies to future monarchs.