Expert Calls On Couples To Think Carefully

A family law expert at Irwin Mitchell has called on those planning to wed to think carefully about a prenuptial agreement, after it was confirmed Prince William and Catherine Middleton decided against signing one.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that the idea of such an agreement was not suggested to the couple before their big day, which was watched by more than 24 million TV viewers in the UK and a huge number of well-wishers on the streets of London.

As well as being a member of the Royal Family and having been left £6.5m from the estate of his deceased mother, Prince William earns over £37,000 in the RAF. Catherine – now the Duchess of Cambridge – is currently not working.

Discussing the issue, Peter Morris, a Partner in the Family law team at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds, said: "Although no one wants to cast a grey cloud over what was a terrific Royal Wedding, statistically 50 per cent of marriages just don't work out.

"In addition, Britain's royal family in recent years has become synonymous with divorce; three of the Queen’s four children have divorced, and William's uncle, Charles Spencer, has been divorced twice.

"Against this background it could have been advisable for Prince William to take out a pre-nup. Many people no longer view the concept of pre-nups as unromantic, but as an important part of pre-marriage financial planning."

He added: "Last year saw an increasing number of celebrity and public divorces. This combined with media interest in pre-nuptial agreements has generated a significant rise in the number of enquiries here at Irwin Mitchell.

"Pre-nuptial agreements are not just for the rich and famous but can benefit the average UK citizen too. It’s all about breaking down barriers and I think more and more people are recognising that by addressing these difficult financial issues before the marriage they remove uncertainty and strengthen their relationship."