Prince Harry is allowed to bring his foreign spouse to the UK – unlike over a third of British people

Is it right or fair that Prince Harry and those who earn above the minimum wage are a select percentage of the population who can marry whoever they choose?

Prince Harry is in a privileged position as he celebrates his engagement to US-born Meghan Markle, not only because he is royalty, but because he is part of a percentage of the population who can afford to marry a spouse from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Immigration rules introduced in 2012 under then-Home Secretary Theresa May set a minimum earnings threshold of £18,600 for UK citizens to bring a non-EEA spouse or partner to live here with them. The Migration Observatory in Oxford estimates that 40 per cent of Brits in full or part-time employment don't earn enough to meet this threshold, narrowing the marriage choices of a significant proportion of the population.

The income requirement doesn’t just disadvantage minimum wage earners, but also the young, women and those with caring responsibilities, who are less likely to meet the threshold. Where you live matters too; Londoners earn higher salaries than those living outside the south-east of the country. But even within London, there are disparities – around 41 per cent of non-white UK citizens working in London earn below the income threshold compared to 21 per cent of those who identify as white. Consider that before hailing the dawn of a new post-racial era in the UK with Meghan Markle, who is mixed race, marrying into the Royal family.

The £18,600 figure was calculated as the minimum income amount necessary to avoid a migrant becoming a “burden on the state”. This makes sense in theory, but economics cannot be the only metric in a system that deals with people’s lives. The committee tasked with setting the amount was not asked to take into account other metrics, such as the wellbeing of UK citizens, permanent residents and their families. The question we need to ask ourselves is, should love have a price tag? Is it right or fair that Prince Harry and those who earn above the minimum wage are a select percentage of the population who can marry whoever they choose?

The price of bringing your spouse to the UK rises with every child you include on your application, giving rise to "Skype families" who cannot afford or are otherwise unable to reunite and have to stay in touch over Skype. In 2015, the Children's Commissioner reported that up to 15,000 children are affected by this rule, most of whom are British citizens. Families are put under immense stress and anxiety.

The Supreme Court acknowledged as much in February this year in a ruling that upheld the principle of the minimum income threshold but which also found that in its implementation, the Government was failing to fulfil its legal duty to have due regard to children’s best interests as a primary consideration in immigration decisions. The judges also ruled that further consideration must be given to alternative sources of income in cases where the financial requirements aren’t met through salaries or savings.

The relentless pressure to keep immigration down at all costs and the focus on blunt targets are among the drivers of our harsh and uncompromising immigration system which all too often fails to take account of the humans at the centre of it all.

Stories of EU nationals being deported from the UK are becoming more common, and with Brexit looming, many applying for British citizenship are finding that the system is difficult and inhumane. Their experience is one that is all too familiar for non-EEA migrants, many of whom are at risk of deportation even if they have lived here for decades.

Take Irene Clennell, a grandmother and mother of two who has been married to a British citizen for 27 years. After living abroad with her husband and two sons for a number of years, she lost her indefinite leave to remain in the UK when they returned home and she stayed behind in Singapore to care for her ailing parents. She managed to return to the UK but was deported. She was only granted a spousal visa and reunited with her family in August after multiple attempts and public appeals. Two days ago, Sky Sports Presenter Johnny Nelson tweeted that his brother, who has lived in the UK for 53 years, is fighting to stay in the UK after losing his passport with his indefinite leave to remain authorisation in a house fire over 20 years ago.

Immigration should not be assessed in solely economic terms because people’s lives are complicated and some needs, such as those of children, cannot be totted up in a balance sheet.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their guests will enjoy the lavish experience of a Royal Wedding with all the trimmings. The choice of who you marry should be open to all, not just to a privileged percentage of the population.