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    Royal divorces and the remaking of marriage and monarchy

    Monk, Daniel (2022) Royal divorces and the remaking of marriage and monarchy. In: Miles, J. and Monk, Daniel and Probert, R. (eds.) Fifty Years of the Divorce Reform Act 1969. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509947881.

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    Abstract

    The matrimonial affairs of the royal family have always been both a matter of State and a source of intrigue. As a result, they have attracted the attention of political and constitutional theorists, historians, tabloid journalists, gossips, cartoonists and hagiographers. While identifying the significance of royal divorces throughout history, this paper focuses on the post-WWII period to the present – the period just before and after the Divorce Reform Act 1969 – and argues that royal divorces have played a role in both hindering and enabling divorce reform. It argues that royal divorces are important moments of social history and that the array of narratives about these divorces provide a rich perspective for tracing the complex interconnectedness between – and the remarkable tenacity of – marriage and the monarchy, two of the most resilient legal, social and cultural institutions. Book synopsis: The enactment of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 was a landmark moment in family law. Coming into force in 1971, it had a significant impact on legal practice and was followed by a dramatic increase in divorce rates, reflecting changes in social attitudes. This new interdisciplinary collection explores the background to the 1969 Act and its influence on law and society. Bringing together scholars from law, sociology, history, demography, and film and literature, it reflects on the changes to divorce law and practice over the past 50 years, and the changing impact of divorce on different people in society, particularly women. As such, it offers a 'biography' of this important piece of legislation, moving from its conception and birth, through its reception and development, to its imminent demise. Looking to the future, and to the new law introduced by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, this collection suggests ways for evaluating what makes a 'good' divorce law. This brilliant collection gives insight not only into this crucial piece of legislation, but also into a key period of societal change.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Book Section
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Business and Law > Birkbeck Law School
    Depositing User: Daniel Monk
    Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2022 17:16
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 18:15
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/47656

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