The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-10
ROYAL ETIQUETTE.
In England It Assumes a Number
of Curious Phases.
THINGS THE KING CANNOT DO

From individuals, He Must Not Be-
long to q Club and May Not Marry
Without Parlian,ent's Consent.
1t may sound a little curious but
there are quite q number of things
which, despite his exalted position as
sovereign of the realm, King George
v. cannot do. These disabilities range
over all sorts OF matters and concern
etiquette. politics. religion and law.
To begin with etiquette, II Ia an estab-
lished practice that his majesty must
never call upon or grant an audience
to a foreign monarch except In the
presence OF responsible minister.
Etiquette also precludes him from &C.
cepting a gift which a loyal subject
may wish to make him. Should, how
ever, the gift be a joint Offering the
prohibition does not apply. This en-
abIes King George to accept gifts
which are subscribed for by a 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-
lions to dine or stop with a subject
What he does when be wishes to pay
such a visit Is to invite himself. An
other strictly observed point OF eth
Quette is that on ascending the throne
a king shall withdraw from any clubs
to which he has hitherto belonged
Similarly be cannot become Free
Mason, and II he happens to be one at
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 sover-
eign must bow to the will Of others.
Although King Cophetua might have
loved and shared his throne with a
beggar maid, the royal marriage act
would render the occurrence Of any
such romantic union impossible in Eng
land Members of the blood royal
must have the sanction of parliament
before they can marry. and this would
certainly not be accorded unless the
birth and position Of the lady were
beyond reproach
An English kings position toward
the law is somewhat peculiar. Theo-
retically he Is above the law. In prac-
tice, however, he has to obey II, just
as have his subjects. He must OBJ
serve the established legal system Of
the country. Any royal proclamation
which he issues Is only binding In so
far as 1t is founded upon an existing
law. 1t cannot alter the common law
or create new offense. nor can
king set up private tribunals, such as
the star chamber. or add to the jurts-
diction of a court By special act OF
parliament II has also been decided
that II his majesty were to lose an &c
tion brought against him by the reve-
nue. authorities he would be liable for
the payment of costs.
By the law Of the land the king can
not possibly commit an offense. Any
injury or wrong suffered by subject
at his hands has to be attributed to
the mistake Of his advisers" hence
1t happens that King George is the
only person In Great Britain who cam
not arrest suspected felon, even II
such a one were to be seen by him en-
tering Buckingham palace or Windsor
castle. The reason for this is because
no action for wrongful arrest could
lie against him. and therefore II the
person arrested by him were proved
innocent there would then be a wrong
without remedy. Another legal dis
ability of the king is that he is barred
Df all rights In matters relating to land
after lapse Of sixty years. He is also
prohibited from serving on jury or
from giving evidence.
Until so comparatively recent q pc
Rod as 1870 If a subject were convict
ed of treason or felony the king could
claim his property. Another lapsed
prerogative of the crown is one known
as "corody." During its existence
king who wanted to advance the In
terests of royal chaplain could com
pei bishop to support such a clergy
man until n benefice had been found
for him. Nowadays be has not even
the right of founding a bishopric or
creating ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
Similarly he must always be a mem
Der Of the Church of England and
cannot change his religion.
The theory that the king 'reigns,
but does not govern" is amply borne
out by the political system of the
country. While the members Of par
lament are his majesty's faithful
commons" they have certain privi'
leges which he himself does not pos.
yess. Thus King George can summon
pr prorogue parliament at WILL but he
tannot prolong It beyond a definite
period Similarly he is absolutely de-
barred from imposing any sort of tax
alton whatever without first securing
the consent of parliament So JeaE
ously guarded is this privilege that a
king cannot create new officers with
new fees or annex new fees to exist
Ing officers, as such course would
Re considered as imposing fresh tax.
in bygone times. however, when an
English monarch was In want of funds
he would levy taxes right and left and
without asking anybody.
The francise does not extend to Eng
lish monarchs King George Is one
Of the few men possessing genuine
stake in the country without the priv
nege of recording vote - London
Bellman.