Fort Pierce news., 1911-10-06
ROYAL ETIQUETTE.
In England It Assumes a Number
Of Curious Phases.
THINGS THE KING CANNOT DO

long to a Club and May Not Marry
Without Parliament's Consent.
1t may sound a little curious, but
there are quite a number Of things
which, despite his exalted position as
sovereign of the realm, King George
V. cannot do. These disabilities range
over al sorts Of matters and concern
etiquette, politics, religion and law.
To begin with etiquette, 1t is an estab-
lished practice that his majesty must
never call upon or grant an audience
to a foreign monarch except In the
presence Of a responsible minister
Etiquette also precludes him from ac
cepting a gift which loyal subject
may wish to make him. Should. how
ever, the gift be joint offering the
prohibition does not apply. This ell
ables King George to accept gift
which are subscribed for by number
Of people together.
A king never writes letter to any
body outside his family circle. All
other correspondence has to be con
Quoted through one of his SECRETARIES
Nor does King George accept invita-
tions to dine or stop with a subject
What he does when he wishes to pay
such visit is to invite himself. AN
other strictly observed point OF Ell
nuette is that on ascending the throne
king shall withdraw from any clubs
70 which he has hitherto belonged
Similarly he cannot become free
Mason. and If he happens to be one al
the date Of his ascension he must re
sign from the craft. King George
however. has not been initiated.
Even in affairs Of the heart q sover
eign must bow to the will OF others
Although King Cophetua might nave
loved and shared his throne with o
beggar maid. the royal marriage ac'
would render the occurrence OF any
srcb romantic union impossible in Eng
land Members of the blood roya
must have the sanction of parliament
before they can marry, and this wouio
certainly not be accorded unless tn'
birth and position of the LADY wer'
beyond reproach,
An English kings position towarO
The Inv Is somewhat peculiar lneo
rptically he is above the law. In prac
| rice however, he has to obey H. Jus
as have his subjects. He must on
servo the established legal system o'
the country. Any royal proclamauo'
which he issues is only binding ID 81
Far os It IS founded upon an exisuh'
law II cannot alter the common law
or create q new offense. nor can
king set up private tribunals sucn a. u
the star chamber, or add TO tne Ju'i'
diction of a court BY speciai ACT .
narlioment 1t has also been deciue'
that if his majesty were to lose an az
tion brought against him by the rev
nue authorities he would be IlaDle ~
the payment of costs. ,oon
nv tbe law of the land the king can
,ot nossibly commit an offense. AN
,ninrv or wrong suffered by supJee
ot his hands has to be attrlpu'e"
tLo "n,istake of his advisers; henc
- honpens that King George Is u
on,v nerson in Great Britain VINO caI
not arrest a suspected felon' even
srch one were TO be seen oy niiu - .
torln0 buckingham palace or 'luso nus.
ooat,o Tho reason for this is becaus
No action for wrongful arrest cou,
uo against him. and therefore Il ~ ~
nerson arrested by him were proNe
innocont there would then be wron ,,
ritho,t n remedy. Another legal ~
ah,l,tv Of the king is that he is palle ~,
90 oll rights in matters relating 10 ian ~,
after a lapse Of sixty years He ,,,.s 70 a
: prohibited from serving on jug
from giving evidence . n
Trntil so comparatively recent . = ,,ic =
! Rod as 1870 If subject were :. vorc, oo,,
~ ~ 80 treason or felony the king cou m
claim his property. Another .npy, .apT,
nraroentive I Of the crown Is one ',aaOo nnU"
- - "corody." During It's eAlS'.n .ne {,
Ting who wanted to advance ,,S tI COZ
sarests s,s d. a royal chaplain cou'u a,ora 81,
re Ual 2 bishop to support such cte,S to,',
nan M, until benefce had been ~ icv, ev,
sor s him. Nowadays he mas nUS e,.,c -
: tSa t right of founding DisIoP iOp,ct,o
oueot,ng Tue ecclesiastical JurlsuiyuU r,o,
ssv" Similarly he must always oe .aa ns .,
Sar Of the Church Of Enslanu .
cannot car change hiS religion, h. ..reier
'er The theory that the klng sn,v boz. bor
~, snS does not govern" is amply - ~, :
O O',. out @ bv the political system ~ - .,
Ou. Oo,ntry. while the members ..,o,tS, - 4
I lament are his majestys o.,o,n pri
onmons,r they have certa'n -, m .,
' eomnV sns which be himself does u,,mp nOr Z
:. ss less' Thus king George can an, su, hnt
it beoS' .-tlo fnpnt aC VIII, ~