The Queen is still ‘uncomfortable’ with the idea of divorce, a royal commentator has claimed.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said the Queen, 93, feels ‘sad but pragmatic’ about royal divorces, and will often urge couples to make their marriages work because she feels it is ‘too easy to get divorced’.
Her comments come as two royal divorces were announced in a matter of weeks, with David Linley, 58, the Earl of Snowdon, and wife Serena, 49, announcing their split yesterday, just a week after it emerged Peter, 42, and Autumn Phillips, 41, have also separated.
Speaking to Okay! magazine, Ingrid said the Queen is now banking on the ‘strength’ of Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton’s, 38, marriage, revealing: ‘If she didn’t have them, I think she might say to herself: “Goodness, after over 70 years on the throne, it’s come to nothing.”‘
The Queen, 93, is ‘still uncomfortable’ with the idea of divorce, and feels it is ‘too easy’ to split up, according to royal commentator Ingrid Seward (pictured, the Queen at church in February)
Ingrid said that despite three of the Queen’s four children having divorced, she still struggles with the idea of it.
She revealed that in the past the royal has often offered advice to couples who may be struggling with their marriage.
Ingrid said: ‘She used to say “Just wait two years and see if you can make it work”. She will have urged Peter and Autumn to try again.’
The royal expert explained that, despite her own discomfort and upset, the Queen remains stoical about royal splits.
The royal commentator said the Queen is now banking on the strength of Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton’s, 38, marriage (pictured, during a royal visit to Cambridge in February)
She revealed the royal’s pragmatic nature is helping her to cope with a series of challenges within the family.
Ingrid also told how the Queen is now banking on the ‘strength’ of William and Kate’s marriage after a ‘tough’ year.
The past 12 months has seen the forced retirement of Prince Andrew and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s withdrawal from royal duties, as well as Peter Phillips’s and David Linley’s shock divorce announcements within the last week.
The Queen was also said to be saddened last night as it emerged her nephew David is to divorce his wife after more than 25 years of marriage.
Her comments come after the second royal divorce was announced in as many weeks, as it emerged the Queen’s nephew David Linley is set to split from wife Serena (pictured, at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018)
David, Princess Margaret’s son from her marriage to Lord Snowdon, announced an ‘amicable’ split from Serena, the Countess of Snowdon.
Friends blamed the amount of time he spends away from home on business and insisted no one else was involved.
It comes just a week after it was announced Peter and Autumn Phillips had separated following 12 years of marriage.
And despite her reservations, three of the Queen’s four children are also divorced.
The news comes just one week after it was announced the Queen’s eldest grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn have separated (pictured, with their daughters Savannah and Isla at Trooping the Colour in June 2019)
Eldest son Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s divorce was officially finalised on 24 August 1996, after a very public fall out.
Meanwhile Prince Andrew and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson separated in 1992 before divorcing four years later.
And the Queen’s only daughter Princess Anne divorced from her husband Captain Mark Phillips in 1992.