Katie Price's marriage to jailed husband Lee Andrews may not be legally valid in the UK, according to legal experts. The couple, who married in a glamorous ceremony at a five-star Dubai hotel in January, later formally registered their union in Abu Dhabi in February. However, that official marriage is now under scrutiny as Lee remains in Al Awir prison over alleged fraud.
Amarjit Singh Ryatt, a marriage expert at Taylor Rose, explained that a UAE marriage must be properly attested and approved by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalised through the UAE Embassy in London before Britain will recognise it. 'Red flags include missing or inconsistent attestations, discrepancies in names or passport numbers, and certificates issued by non-competent bodies,' he said.
Brett Frankle, a partner at Mills & Reeve, noted that modern UAE marriage certificates typically include a QR code to verify their authenticity. However, the document Katie has made public lacks such a code. Frankle described it as 'an extract from the registration of marriage record' rather than the official marriage certificate.
Katie, declared bankrupt in 2019 and with no pre-nuptial agreement, has been urged not to delay addressing the situation. Frankle warned that in England, assets built up during the marriage are split on divorce, so the richer partner should act quickly to limit claims. 'There is no doubt money to be made with this story, but that would have to be shared equally if it is made whilst the marriage subsists,' he said.
Meanwhile, Lee is reportedly required to pay over £100,000 to secure his release from prison, a sum insiders say he is confident he can raise himself, insisting Katie 'won't need to pay anything.'
