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Often, this is a marriage between a male from a royal or reigning house, often a historical German State , and a woman of lesser status (a non-royal or reigning house, or a woman with a low-status profession such as actress). Neither the bride nor any children of the marriage has any claim on the groom's titles, rights, or entailed property. The children are considered legitimate on other counts and the prohibition of Bigamy applies. ''Morganatic'', from the Latin phrase ''matrimonium ad morganaticam'', refers to the gift given by the groom to the bride on the morning after the wedding. The practice of morganatic marriage was most common in the German-speaking parts of Europe, where equality in marriage was considered an important principle among the reigning houses and high nobility. The German name was ''Ehe zur linken Hand'' (marriage by the left hand) and the husband gave his left hand during the wedding ceremony instead of the right. The French equivalent was a (openly) secret marriage. THE UNITED KINGDOM Marriages have never been considered morganatic in any part of the United Kingdom , although the status of the legendary mistresses of the Stuart dynasty approximated this condition, and some of the wives of Henry VIII were considered such by Rome. The marriage of the former King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson was not morganatic, as the concept does not exist in British law. Edward renounced all of his titles for himself and successors when he ''abdicated'', and was created Duke of Windsor. When they married, his wife became Duchess, and any children would have inherited the title. The ''style'' H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness) is in the sovereign's gift, though it is normally conferred as a matter of course. But it was specifically not granted to Wallis Simpson or any future children. As it happened, they had no children. Upon the engagement of would be known simply as Lady Louise Windsor rather the HRH Princess Louise of Wessex. It was acknowledged however that Lady Louise would be free to assume the higher (and correct) style and title upon reaching adulthood. Notwithstanding the above, there is at least one morganatic Marriage in the British Royal Family . Catherine Of Valois , widow of Henry V , is said to have entered such a union with Owen Tudor about or before the year 1429. (Their child, Edmund Tudor , was the father of Henry VII .) EXAMPLES Examples of morganatic marriage:
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