WI Mordaunt trial ended with a divorce, possible consequences in Britain?

[RyuDrago]

In 1869, sir Charles Mordaunt started an injunction of divorce towards his wife Harriett after she confessed she was unfaithful with various men, above the Prince of Wales Edward, notorious playboy (besides the husband almost pratically caught him when he was coming out from their manor previously). Mordaunt at the same time sued the lovers of the wife and above all Edward for revenge, while Harriett was brought into an asylum by her parents to let her pass as crazy so to avoid the divorce.

OTL the trial ended in 1870 with the refusal of the concession of the divorce as Harriett was recognized insane of mind so her accusation were considered false, albeit Edward was forced to testimony having as expected an easy interrogation and remained firm in his testimoniance, while Gladstone worked behind the scene to mollyfing the court.

So, what if instead the outcome of the trial ended to the opposite, so with the concession of the divorce? Considering the possibility of various variables, such as an Edward more hesitant in his replies (in the winter immediately previous to the testimoniance he lived as guest in the manor of Gunton where he spent according to general voices quite the gaudent life as careless of the trial... let's say that time of excesses somehow weakened his body and his mind), or the lawyers of the couple were more determinated and even worked together (because for Harriett could have been convenient to be considered guilty and then obtain the divorce for her faults, so at least being recognized she told the truth hence allowing her to leave the asylum), or Gladstone not only failed to corrupt the jury but also his attempt became somewhat public, or someone of the various scorned lovers of Edward went to testimony against him with certain proofs (explicite letters written by him, I assume)...

... So, what could be the possible extent of the (obvious) internal fallout in Britain, aside from assuming "Bertie" will probably lose the throne (aside from his libertine behaviour, he testimonied the false) due to a rising hostility of the public opinion, OTL well visible to the period before the testimoniance, and the end of the political career of Gladstone (even if his manouvers weren't discovered, however he failed to prevent the destruction of the image of the Prince of Wales), considering also this will happen in a such delicate period as the imminence of the Franco-Prussian war (assuming this will however be hard to butterfly)? And the consequences could be even worse for the British monarchy?

 

[Mr Carrot]

the mid 1870s marked the beginning of relative British economic decline, which at that point was arrestable, so anything that severely shakes up the Victorian establishment, both on the side of the elite and political powerbrokers may have significant subtle institutional shifts going forwards.

an interesting POD for setting loose a swarm of butterflies.

 

[Londinium]

Although it would have been rather unsettling in the short-term, I don't think a divorce with the Prince of Wales as the admitted 'correspondent' would have been ultimately considered more than an embarrassing footnote in the annals of British history. Yes, Victoria would have made quite a few loud noises and somewhat snubbed Bertie (which she already did anyway at this time) but Bertie's marriage to Alix would have remained intact with Alix being regarded as an object of pity and their sons would have had no impediment to the eventual throne. Yes, even at that peak of Victorianism with Victoria herself being unpopular due to her seclusion, I think it's safe to say that the general public would generally done little more than exchange more than a nudge and a wink at the thought of the Prince of Wales carrying on and would have had no problems considering him Victoria's heir. I mean, the only difference between the outcome of a subject's divorce and what happened was that it merely spelled out what most folks already suspected re Bertie.
Had Bertie ever considered divorcing Alix and marrying one of his flings, that would have been a very different story back then re the public and C of E.

 

[kreepysam]

What if Bertie and the government are exposed while trying to tamper with the court? Say if Mourdant agreed to drop the Prince from the suit, in exchange for the Prince using his influence to secure a divorce. If this were exposed, it may give some ammunition to rising working class movements and other radicals who have proof that 'the law' is really a rich man's game, where favourable outcomes can be bought.

The middle/upper classes may also be fairly uncomfortable with royalty meddling in due process-after the 17th century such partiality is not really in the spirit of being an English monarch. I feel a legalistic scandal like this could be more damaging for the royal family than sexual indiscretions.