FVerbaas posted at 4:39PM Mon, 26 December 2016 - #4293584

Here in Netherlands we do not have common law but same system: if the monarch is a male his spouse gets the title of queen. Present king Willem Alexander and queen Maxima. If the monarch is female, her spouse gets the title 'prince'. We had tthis situation under the three previous monarchs Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix. When Beatrix announced her abdication there was a discussion whether to move to consistency and let Maxima just keep the ' princess' title she received when marrying Willem Alexander, but such was not effectuated. Maxima enjoys great sympathy in the country and nobody wanted to rob her of the royal title. Not sure how long this romanticism will hold in modern times. What would have happened if Willem Alexander had been gay and would have married a guy I do not know. Guess his partner would be given the title 'prince'. The first in line of succession now is princess Amalia. She was born in 2003. Same-sex marriage for her would give similar discussion of course. Despite being female and partner of the monarch her title would not be queen but 'princess'.

Learned a lot. I didn't even know the Netherlands was a monarchy.