England Secedes

What would happen in the very unlikely scenario England seceded from the United Kingdom. Is that even legally possible? Would the United Kingdom survive in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (in case it's England who abandons the monarchy, if it's the opposite the others would just turn into republics I think)? What happens with the commonwealth? How does the international community respond?
 
Purely as a thought exercise, they would cease to be 'british' monarchs, but he or she would retain every non-English title. For example they would still be monarch of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the Royal Commonwealth.
 
Purely as a thought exercise, they would cease to be 'british' monarchs, but he or she would retain every non-English title. For example they would still be monarch of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the Royal Commonwealth.

I don't know about that. I'm guessing that any such divorce (borderline ASB as it is) would not result in an English Republic, so the Monarch of the united Kingdom of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland would still be the reigning monarch of England as well. Essentially, the two crowns would be in perpetual union.
 
It wouldn't affect the Queen's rule over nations in the Commonwealth, but the Commonwealth itself would suffer, and probably cease to exist as a functioning body.

It is pretty much dead now really, all it has is the Commonwealth Games and a periodic meeting that not all heads of government attend.
 

Thande

Donor
The monarchy would stay of course. The status of Wales is questionable as according to most of the constitutional laws it's part of England but in modern times is generally treated as its own distinct entity. If Wales was separated, expert the question of Monmouthshire to rear its ugly head (again) and possibly Berwick with Scotland.

In practice if England left the UK I don't see the rest holding together, although I suppose Scotland might remain tied to Northern Ireland. The monarchy would govern each realm in personal union as before 1707. An independent Wales would screw things up though as technically its monarch would be the Prince of Wales rather than the King/Queen of England, Scotland et al.
 
I don't know about that. I'm guessing that any such divorce (borderline ASB as it is) would not result in an English Republic, so the Monarch of the united Kingdom of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland would still be the reigning monarch of England as well. Essentially, the two crowns would be in perpetual union.
Well given the OP statement, its a bit hard to say directly one way or the other. If England became an independent nation within the Royal Commonwealth, then they would probably still be monarch, but maybe the title would change (to ...England and Scotland for example). It depends if the Act of Union is repealed. Even then it doesn't stop them from being monarch of England.
 

Thande

Donor
Well given the OP statement, its a bit hard to say directly one way or the other. If England became an independent nation within the Royal Commonwealth, then they would probably still be monarch, but maybe the title would change (to ...England and Scotland for example). It depends if the Act of Union is repealed. Even then it doesn't stop them from being monarch of England.

You have to repeal the Act of Union because the Act of Union is the political union of the parliaments of England and Scotland which brought the countries together to form the UK (well, the KGB originally before Ireland joined). Trying to separate England from the UK without repealing the Act of Union is like trying to secede a state from the USA without repudiating the US Constitution.
 
If England gets a devolved parliament, and over a period of time, more and more powers are "de-centralized," it's possible the UK simply breaks up over that. With a UK Parliament mostly for show and all powers to the local PMs of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England, maybe England can be the first to realize that the United Kingdom is little more than a traditional institution and apply for United Nations (and Commonwealth?) membership seperate from the United Kingdom. This would leave a short period of time before Wales, Scotland, and/or Northern Ireland join the UN/Commonwealth/EU/+others.
 
Depends on the circumstances of any succession but I dare say some sort of framework would be drawn up with a referendum on the future government.

In reality this is total ASB. Even Scottish independence is laughed at by most in Scotland except the SNP. Why would England want to reduce it's size, power and influence, specifically in the EU which would see it relegated to the level of Spain.
 
It has something of "The Onion" about it: the oppressed English nationalists ranting about their lost privileges over generations of celtic tyranny...
 
I'm not so sure its unlikely given the present situation of cuts being imposed from Westminster and a Scotland that voted differently. A referendum held after a few years of cuts might lead to succession of Scotland and possibly Wales rather than England succeeding.

England would be unlikely to be republican unless there was a really virulent campaign against the monarchy by the Murdoch media a seperate England would probably have a Tory majority most of the time.

The Queen remains head of state for England Scotland and Wales and head of the Commowealth as well. However the UK loses its seat on the UN Security Council and there would be rajustment at Brussels. Scotland would probably seek a place on the Nordic Council of ministers and have the problem of Shetland seperatists seeking reunion with Norway
 
Scotland would probably seek a place on the Nordic Council of ministers and have the problem of Shetland seperatists seeking reunion with Norway

We've got that already (my Orcadian grandparents celebrated Norwegian national holidays and had Norwegian flags in the garage), but I don't think it would become more serious than it already is: a northern isles in-joke (making it one of the few things that Orkney and Shetland have in common! :p).
 
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