The strict rules of the Monarchy
The Windsor family has known 4 kings and one queen who are Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II. At the beginning, she should not accede to the throne. Indeed, during her grandfather's reign, George V, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the Duke of York. In 1936, when her grandfather, George V, died and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second-in-line to the throne, after her father. But her uncle decided to marry Wallis Simpson, twice divorced and this situation provoked a constitutional crisis. Then, Edward abdicated and consequently, George VI, Elizabeth's father became king, and she became heiress presumptive. If her parents had had a later son, she would have lost her position as first-in-line, as her brother would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession but she only had a little sister, Margaret. Thereby, when her father died in February 1952, the young woman became Queen. She became monarch on February 6th, 1952.
How to become the British Monarch ?
The rules of succession may only be changed by an Act of Parliament. It is not possible for an individual to renounce his or her right of succession. The situation is restricted to the legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover (1630-1719).
After an individual ascends the throne, he or she reigns until death. There were only two exceptions. The first exception was James II. He was involuntarily removed from power and he fled into exile in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. He was not loved by English people because he was pro-Catholic. The second was Edward VIII who abdicated voluntary. He had to be authorized by a special Act of Parliament in 1936: his Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act. This Act recognized and rectified his abdication and passed succession to his brother Prince George VI. The act also excluded any possible future descendants of Edward from the line of succession.
The rules of succession may only be changed by an Act of Parliament. It is not possible for an individual to renounce his or her right of succession. The situation is restricted to the legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover (1630-1719).
After an individual ascends the throne, he or she reigns until death. There were only two exceptions. The first exception was James II. He was involuntarily removed from power and he fled into exile in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. He was not loved by English people because he was pro-Catholic. The second was Edward VIII who abdicated voluntary. He had to be authorized by a special Act of Parliament in 1936: his Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act. This Act recognized and rectified his abdication and passed succession to his brother Prince George VI. The act also excluded any possible future descendants of Edward from the line of succession.
Under common law the crown was inherited by male-preference cognatic primogiture and the succession is restricted to legitimate descendants of Sophia of Hanover, and debars those who are Roman Catholics or who have married Roman Catholics. It means that the first son of the King or the Queen became the first of the line of succession, even if the Monarch's firstborn was a girl. But if the Monarch has only girls, the firstborn will become the Queen. However on 28 October 2011, a reform was declared during the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It called the Perth Agreement. The heads of government of the 16 Commonwealth realms agreed to change the rules of succession by replacing male preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, in which the first-born child of a monarch would be heir apparent regardless of gender. The change would only apply for persons born after October 2011. The reforms will not therefore cause Princess Anne and her issue to be promoted over her younger brothers, the Princes Andrew and Edward and their children. Moreover, this reform authorizes the Monarch to have a catholic spouse.
The crowning
When the Sovereign dies, his or her heir immediately and automatically succeeds and the phrase “The King is dead. Long live the King!” is pronounced. Actually, it was last properly used in the United Kingdom in January 1936 when King George V was succeeded by his son King Edward VIII. Then, the phrase was altered to accommodate a change in the monarch's gender, since the deceased king may be succeeded by a queen or vice versa, as happened in 1952, when King George VI died and was succeeded by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, or as happened in 1901, when Queen Victoria was succeeded by her son, King Edward VII. The phrase is therefore modified to “the King is dead. Long live the Queen!” or “The Queen is dead. Long live the King”, which is how it will be said when Queen Elizabeth dies and her son Prince Charles becomes King. The accession of the sovereign is publicly proclaimed at St James' Palace by an Accession Council. The Monarch is crowned in Westminster Abbey, usually by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior cleric in the Church of England. The timing of the coronation has varied throughout British history. The first Norman monarch, William I “The Conqueror”, was crowned on the day he became King, on December the 25th, 1066. Most of his successors were crowned within weeks, or even days, of their accession. But since the reign of the Hanoverian monarchs, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was deemed appropriate to extend the waiting period to several months, following a period of mourning for the previous monarch and to allow time for preparation of the ceremony. Moreover the coronation is not necessary for a sovereign to reign. So, since George IV included, at least one year has panes one year between accession and coronation. For example, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began on February the 6th 1952 and her crowning was on June the 2nd 1953, namely 17 months after her reign had begun. George VI is the exception because his predecessor did not die but abdicated. Because of this period of time some monarchs were never crowned. Indeed, Edward V and Lady Jane Grey were both deposed before they could be crowned, in 1483 and 1553, respectively. Edward VIII also went uncrowned, as he abdicated in 1936, before the end of the customary one-year period between accession and coronation.
When the Sovereign dies, his or her heir immediately and automatically succeeds and the phrase “The King is dead. Long live the King!” is pronounced. Actually, it was last properly used in the United Kingdom in January 1936 when King George V was succeeded by his son King Edward VIII. Then, the phrase was altered to accommodate a change in the monarch's gender, since the deceased king may be succeeded by a queen or vice versa, as happened in 1952, when King George VI died and was succeeded by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, or as happened in 1901, when Queen Victoria was succeeded by her son, King Edward VII. The phrase is therefore modified to “the King is dead. Long live the Queen!” or “The Queen is dead. Long live the King”, which is how it will be said when Queen Elizabeth dies and her son Prince Charles becomes King. The accession of the sovereign is publicly proclaimed at St James' Palace by an Accession Council. The Monarch is crowned in Westminster Abbey, usually by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior cleric in the Church of England. The timing of the coronation has varied throughout British history. The first Norman monarch, William I “The Conqueror”, was crowned on the day he became King, on December the 25th, 1066. Most of his successors were crowned within weeks, or even days, of their accession. But since the reign of the Hanoverian monarchs, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was deemed appropriate to extend the waiting period to several months, following a period of mourning for the previous monarch and to allow time for preparation of the ceremony. Moreover the coronation is not necessary for a sovereign to reign. So, since George IV included, at least one year has panes one year between accession and coronation. For example, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began on February the 6th 1952 and her crowning was on June the 2nd 1953, namely 17 months after her reign had begun. George VI is the exception because his predecessor did not die but abdicated. Because of this period of time some monarchs were never crowned. Indeed, Edward V and Lady Jane Grey were both deposed before they could be crowned, in 1483 and 1553, respectively. Edward VIII also went uncrowned, as he abdicated in 1936, before the end of the customary one-year period between accession and coronation.
During this ceremony, the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia. The essential elements of the coronation have remained largely unchanged for the past thousand years. The sovereign is first presented to and acclaimed by the people. He or she then swears an oath to uphold the law and the Church. Following that, the monarch is anointed with oil, crowned, and invested with the regalia, before receiving the homage of his or her subjects. The ceremony has not evolved. Since the reign of Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century, coronations have always been held in Westminster Abbey. However, there were a few modifications. For example, on June the 2nd 1953, Elizabeth II's crowning was the first live broadcast in several European countries. There were more than twenty cameras in Westminster Abbey and about fifty in London. A hundred million people watched Elizabeth II’s crowning. Then the images crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Canadian and American people discover the crowning of this 27-year-old queen. The Queen wore a white satin embroidered dress and purple velvet cloak and was crowned with St. Edward’s Crown. The dress the Queen wore during the ceremony is one of the most famous of the XX century.
The Queen Elizabeth II during her crowning on June the 2nd 1953.
The Royal Etiquette
The British Queen has the strictest protocol of the world. This protocol is a tradition. When the Queen enters a room, everyone stands. The bow is not obligatory. It is a personal choice. But it is really recommended in front of an eminent member of the Royal family, especially because this tradition is old. To discuss with the Queen, it is necessary to call her “Your Majesty” the first time and then just “Ma'am”. Before, it was forbidden to put a question to the Queen, but recently, this rule became more flexible for trifling conversations. Speaking generally, it is surer to let the Queen choose the talking point. “Sir” or “Ma'am” is for the others members of the Royal Family even if it is necessary to say “Your Royal Highness” the first time. The dress code is really strict for the Royals’ receptions. The men have to wear a uniform, a coat and striped pants or elegant casual wear. The women have to wear a dress or a suit, avoiding plunging neckline, open-back, fine braces and sure miniskirt. Hats are not normally worn at functions after 6:30 p.m. Another rule: when the queen stops eating, you stop as well. But even some states leaders have made mistakes. For example, nobody has to touch the Queen but Michelle Obama did this during the G20 in 2009.
The British Queen has the strictest protocol of the world. This protocol is a tradition. When the Queen enters a room, everyone stands. The bow is not obligatory. It is a personal choice. But it is really recommended in front of an eminent member of the Royal family, especially because this tradition is old. To discuss with the Queen, it is necessary to call her “Your Majesty” the first time and then just “Ma'am”. Before, it was forbidden to put a question to the Queen, but recently, this rule became more flexible for trifling conversations. Speaking generally, it is surer to let the Queen choose the talking point. “Sir” or “Ma'am” is for the others members of the Royal Family even if it is necessary to say “Your Royal Highness” the first time. The dress code is really strict for the Royals’ receptions. The men have to wear a uniform, a coat and striped pants or elegant casual wear. The women have to wear a dress or a suit, avoiding plunging neckline, open-back, fine braces and sure miniskirt. Hats are not normally worn at functions after 6:30 p.m. Another rule: when the queen stops eating, you stop as well. But even some states leaders have made mistakes. For example, nobody has to touch the Queen but Michelle Obama did this during the G20 in 2009.