Speculation is mounting that North Yorkshire-born businesswoman Amanda Staveley is to tie the knot with Prince Andrew but the future isn't particularly bright for commoners who marry into the Royal Family.

Christen Pears reports.

SHE'S a glamorous former model who made her first million in business by the age of 24 and now Amanda Staveley is being romantically linked to Prince Andrew. The 30-year-old entrepreneur is keeping quiet about her romance with the 43-year-old prince but he is said to be besotted with her.

Amanda, who was educated at Queen Margaret's School, in Escrick, near York, and now lives in London, is the daughter of Robert Staveley, who established the Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon. Ambitious and intelligent, she has a reputation as a risk taker both in her private life and in business. But while Andrew may admire her outgoing personality and independence, the rest of the Royal Family may be less keen. History suggests a less-than-brilliant future for commoners who marry Royals, particularly if they have a mind of their own.

The Duke of York need look no further than his own ex-wife. When Sarah Ferguson burst onto the royal scene in 1985, she was regarded as a breath of fresh air but her vibrant personality soon came to be viewed as vulgar. Right from the start, Fergie was determined to live her own life and flatly refused to bow to the conventions of court life. With her husband spending long periods away from home as an officer in the Royal Navy, the marriage began to founder.

Labelled 'The Duchess of Pork', she was lambasted in the Press, made enemies at the Palace, got into debt and had several affairs. They divorced in 1996 after just ten years of marriage.

But it was the marriage of Charles and Diana and the recriminations that followed that really grabbed the public's attention. On paper the union looked perfect. Diana was the virgin bride from a leading aristocratic family but with the Prince contacting Camilla Parker Bowles even on their honeymoon, it seems the shy 19-year-old never stood a chance

She later declared that the marriage had effectively been over within three years. As Diana grew in confidence and popularity, Charles's star began to wane and the cracks began to show under the glare of the media spotlight.

There were infidelities on both sides - Charles with Camilla Parker Bowles and Diana with a series of men - he was portrayed as cold, weak and under his mother's thumb, while she was shown as erratic, over-emotional and even mentally ill. They officially separated in 1993 and divorced three years later.

Diana was never out of the papers, which must have placed an increased strain on her marriage, but even the more low-key unions have suffered under pressure. After 42 together, the Duke and Duchess of Kent are living virtually separate lives. Although hard-working, the Duchess, who grew up at Hovingham, near Helmsley, has always been seen as unpredictable, converting to Catholicism and treating her staff with a degree of friendliness frowned on by more traditional family members. She has gradually stepped back from public life, giving up her HRH title and working as a music teacher.

She has bought a flat in London's Notting Hill and when she travels, it is no longer in chauffeur-driven cars but on public transport.

However, friends don't believe the couple will separate; the duchess is said to have too much respect for the Queen and is very mindful of her husband's role.

The men don't seem to have fared much better - not those married to Princess Anne anyway. Captain Mark Philips was famously nicknamed Fog by Prince Charles because he was "so wet and thick", which probably didn't make him feel particularly welcome. He and Princess Anne were said to argue constantly but when they divorced in 1992, Commander Tim Laurence took his place.

On the eve of their wedding, the princess declared: "Marriage is about picking the right man - and I've done that". For a while, it seemed as if she was right but earlier this year, there was speculation that the marriage was over. They rarely appear together in public and it seems the former equerry was finding the transition to royal spouse difficult. Even senior courtiers have been wondering whether the princess will be the first member of the royal family to undergo a second divorce.

There is, however, one glimmer of hope from an unlikely quarter: the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Press and public alike have heaped scorn on the couple. Sophie, who was from a solid middle class background, was determined to keep her career as a public relations executive, using her royal status to win over lucrative clients. Meanwhile, Edward's production company, Ardent, was found stalking Prince William round St Andrew's for programmes about royalty aimed at the American market.

Soon afterwards, they announced they were giving up their day jobs to concentrate on royal duties and slowly but surely the tide has begun to turn in their favour.

Sophie is said to be a favourite of the Queen, she is patron of eight charities and is now pregnant with the couple's first child. Sophie will never be a Diana, selling thousands of papers on the strength of the dress she's wearing, but that can only be a good thing. It seems that if you marry into the Royal Family, you have to do it on their terms.

Whether Amanda Staveley would be able to give up her business interests and become a dutiful royal wife remains to be seen.