FIRST-COUSIN marriage has become a hotly debated topic in the UK.

A former Conservative minister made the case to parliament that the practice should be completely outlawed . But what are the current laws surrounding first cousin marriage?

First-cousin marriage in the UK

In the UK, there is no legal ban on two cousins having a relationship or getting married.

It's actually quite common, with 10 per cent of marriages around the world being between first or second cousins.

Standard marriage laws apply, so you need to be over the age of 18 if you want to get married without parental consent.

In Europe, first-cousin marriages were quite common until the 19th Century.

Charles Darwin married his first cousin Emma Wedgewood in 1839 and Queen Victoria married her first cousin Prince A

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