Monarchy in Britain gains executive powers

Is it possible do you think that in the event of some serious crisis in Britain that the monarchy in this case the House of Windsor, could be given power, as in power to do things, by parliament?
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
I've actually outlined a post-WWIII novel in which a twenty-something fourth-in-line to the throne survives in a UK otherwise devastated by nuclear attacks and finds himself King as the Queen and those higher in the succession have all been killed. He has to start the process of rebuilding the country on his own. I don't think I'll ever get around to writing it, though. It's too depressing and I already have too many commitments with Shattered Nation stuff.

Other than some sort of terrible catastrophe, I just don't see anything like this happening, though.
 
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Absent a nuclear holocaust, no, this can't be done. The British monarchy's ceremonial position isn't merely a constitutional peculiarity, but a custom as old as the British state itself. There are well-established legislative mechanisms should a political deadlock or crisis emerge, and intervention by a reigning monarch would seriously incur the wrath of Parliament.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
I suspect, as with just about everything in British politics, the monarch legally has extensive powers but is not conventionally allowed anywhere near them!
And in this case the convention is stronger than the actual legal powers by a substantial degree - it would be viewed a bit like the original Pennsylvania family claiming legal title to the state in question... ;)
 
Is it possible do you think that in the event of some serious crisis in Britain that the monarchy in this case the House of Windsor, could be given power, as in power to do things, by parliament?

No. The most one can do - even in a crisis - is actually take even more powers away from the monarch and give the so-called 'royal prerogatives' straight to the Prime Minister/some other position of temporary authority. Any figure - be they Margaret Thatcher once the nukes start flying or Lord Mountbatten when invited to form a government after the arrest of Harold Wilson - would have to be nominally accountable to Parliament to a far greater extent than the sitting monarch.

In other words, if the British are going to give anyone dictatorial powers, they're going to make sure they were sort-of-elected, at the very least.
 
I think this is a very interesting idea and truly depends on the situation at hand. For example, if both Labour and the Conservatives really f*ck things up grandly, then you might see a response from the public in support of the Queen stepping in to help deal with the crisis. Yes Parliament's powerful, but really they can't do as much legally as people think they can. If the Queen (or later Prince Charles) uses Royal prerogatives with the support of the public, then the MPs are up the creek without a paddle. Sure they could pass a law stripping the Sovereign of royal prerogatives, but the monarch still has to approve it.

To be honest, I'm sure the Queen and or Prince Charles still have a great deal of influence behind the scenes but would only come out from behind the curtain if there was a truly great crisis, like Parliament passing a law that the Sovereign sees as truly wrong or unconstitutional, or no one being able to form a government, like when Belgium had no government for 20 months. Really everything depends on the opinion of the public in that regard.
 
Not with this monarchs

Sorry, but even if a crisis would call for the monarchy to gain more power, with the current set of royalty I don't see
1) Anyone agreeing to let 'those guys' run the country
and frankly
2) any of the current royalty accepting it

May be this could have happened before 1955 when Queen Elisabeth was still young. Today half of the UK probably doubts she still has a grasp on current events good enough to exercise anything but ceremonial power. And her next in line, Prince Charles, is considered even worse. May be if he continues to prove himself politically Prince William could gain enough popular support that giving him executive powers would not trigger a revolution, but up to then every attempt to give the Royal Family so much power would actually be a veiled attempt to establish an English republic.
 
Is it possible do you think that in the event of some serious crisis in Britain that the monarchy in this case the House of Windsor, could be given power, as in power to do things, by parliament?
Best chance is for Germany to invade Britain and for Edward VIII to regain the throne, with Count Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein at his side. Edward and the Nazis assume executive power over Parliament.
 
Best chance is for Germany to invade Britain and for Edward VIII to regain the throne, with Count Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein at his side. Edward and the Nazis assume executive power over Parliament.
Even if that did happen, I still think King Edward would remain merely a figurehead - if anything, even more of one than before.
 
Hmm its funny, people say that, because really the politicians aren't all that great. I would disagree with those who say that the Queen doesn't have a full grasp on current day issues, she never really speaks about them because she's never asked, and tbh everything she does say is written by the Prime Minister and his staff.
 
Hmm its funny, people say that, because really the politicians aren't all that great. I would disagree with those who say that the Queen doesn't have a full grasp on current day issues, she never really speaks about them because she's never asked, and tbh everything she does say is written by the Prime Minister and his staff.
I've heard that Queen Elizabeth spends several hours a day reading through papers of state, but I'm not too sure if that's been verified.
 
Hmm its funny, people say that, because really the politicians aren't all that great. I would disagree with those who say that the Queen doesn't have a full grasp on current day issues, she never really speaks about them because she's never asked, and tbh everything she does say is written by the Prime Minister and his staff.
Her interest in politics is a hobby akin to trainspotting. The Queen can't practically utilize her knowledge, and, whilst her personal opinion may be sought on affairs of state, she is ultimately bound by unwritten convention to sign off all bills ratified by Parliament.

The recent disclosure of Prince Charles' 'Black Spider' memos offers a fascinating glimpse into relations between the British monarchy and government. Although there is strong evidence to suggest elements of the Windsor family are very active lobbyists, it is equally apparent that the political classes have absolutely no qualms about disregarding royal opinion (that is, they don't really give a shit).
 
Her interest in politics is a hobby akin to trainspotting. The Queen can't practically utilize her knowledge, and, whilst her personal opinion may be sought on affairs of state, she is ultimately bound by unwritten convention to sign off all bills ratified by Parliament.

The recent disclosure of Prince Charles' 'Black Spider' memos offers a fascinating glimpse into relations between the British monarchy and government. Although there is strong evidence to suggest elements of the Windsor family are very active lobbyists, it is equally apparent that the political classes have absolutely no qualms about disregarding royal opinion (that is, they don't really give a shit).

Oh I am very aware of that, it was funny seeing how outraged people here were over that whole memo thing.
 
Yeah that was kinda odd I always kinda like Charles for his lobbying in the same I like Prince Phillip for his blunt use of language :D

Oh definitely, Philip might be an old git sometimes, but at least he still bloody speaks his mind.

If more people did that here, we'd be better off.
 
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