Who was the first British royal to marry a commoner?

[DizzyD]

Hiya!

hope you can help me with the following question:

Who was the first British royal to marry a commoner?

I know the first princess to marry a commoner was princess Louise however I'm not sure if this is the first royal?

Thankyou!

[jake-the-peg]

I've answered this in Q&P but people on here might have a better informed opinion as to whether Elizabeth Woodville would count as a commoner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Woodvil le

[DizzyD]

Thankyou so much for your help Jake, not sure if she counts as a commoner? Will try and do some more research to see if she 'counts'!

Obviously if anyone else knows please let me know!!!

Thankyou!

[fletcher.5]

Dizzy
The last royal to marry a commoner was George VI, as Elizabeth Bowes Lyons was considered to be a commoner by the Royal family.

[DizzyD]

Hi Fletcher,

Thanks for your help, I'm looking for the first royal to marry a commoner.

Thankyou

D

[jake-the-peg]

Re reading your question I notice that it says British.

That complicates it a bit as Britain as we know it did not exist in Edward IV's day.

It could mean a Royal from a country that is now British but I rather suspect it's been put in to exclude anyone from before the act of union and hence Edward.

Incidently Elizabeth Woodville was a co-founder of Queens college Cambridge and they class her as a commoner (although they say "a very uncommon commoner")

[DizzyD]

Hi again Jake,

I have to apologise, I was the annoying person that added the British part to the question as I thought people would include other countries with Royal families, when I know the people that set the questions intended the answer to be from the British Royal family. (although they didn't state it!)

Sorry!!!

D

[Hellyon]

George iv married Mrs Fitzherbert and she was regarded as common! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_IV_of_the_ United_Kingdom

[Count_Emmup]

Charlie's probably the first to royal to marry two commoners, I should think!

[kettledrum]

John of Gaunt - 4th son of Edward III - married Catherine Swynford (as his 3rd wife) in 1396. Henry VII was descended from the eldest son of this union.

[Ice.Maiden]

I always thought that Princess Louise, 6th daughter of Queen Victoria, was the first person to marry a commoner, but assuming that John of Gaunt had the title of Prince - then it'd be him.

[kettledrum]

I agree, Ice Maiden, it's difficult to know what is meant by 'royal', but as the son of one king and the father of another - Henry IV, I would expect John of Gaunt to be royal enough!