Queen Victoria Assassinated

[Flocculencio]

In 1840, while pregnant with her first child, Queen Victoria was almost assassinated by one Edward Oxford. Oxford was acquitted by reason of insanity at his trial.

What if his attempt had succeeded in killing the Queen and possibly even Prince Albert who was riding with her at the time?

 

[Archangel Michael]

The throne would pass to her uncle, the King of Hannover. Ernest Augustus was a big time conservative, and was opposed to Catholic Emanicpation. It might be repealled under him. He was also opposed to Wellington, who was the leader of the House of Lords. Can a monarch dismiss the leader of the House of Lords?

 

[Max Sinister]

I wonder whether in that case he might become so unpopular that the English rebel and set up a republic. If not, he'll change the history of Germany - Hannover still connected to Britain means a second counterweight (the first being Austria) to Prussia.

 

[Anaxagoras]

The throne would pass to her uncle, the King of Hannover. Ernest Augustus was a big time conservative, and was opposed to Catholic Emanicpation. It might be repealled under him. He was also opposed to Wellington, who was the leader of the House of Lords. Can a monarch dismiss the leader of the House of Lords?

By the beginning of the 19th Century, the British monarch had little ability to do any such thing. While not entirely the figurehead role played by the monarch today, the ability of the king of queen to go directly against the wishes of Parliament had vanished. For example, Victoria was strongly opposed to William Gladstone's policies, but could do nothing to interfere, since Gladstone held power in Parliament.