Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Charles proclaimed king

By Justin Jefferson - posted Wednesday, 14 September 2022


The King's declaration also shows the ancient Biblical principle, re-asserted in the wake of the Protestant reforms, that the king reigns always under God. Ironically this was precisely the idea that caused the overthrow of the doctrine of the divine rights of kings. The publication of the Bible in the vernacular languages of Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries after Christ, enabled the Protestant reformers, by reference to scripture, to re-advance the cause that the authority of kings - and hence the State - is held on trust for the good of the people, under an almighty, intelligent, creative, personal, loving, universal good and moral God, transcendent above any secular interest or institution, who has made mankind, male and female, in his own image. The modern doctrine of equality which preoccupies modernity, even among atheists, is of Biblical origin.

Since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, society has become more secular but this does not justify ignoring the fact that the new King's pledge of service is based on Christ's teachings: "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all": Mark 10:43.

In the history of ideas, this is the spiritual import of the proceedings, and the fundamental reason why the Accession Council meeting requires the new King to give his declaration and other promises and commitments restraining and foregoing absolute power before they are prepared to proclaim him king.

Advertisement

It is why the one thing the accession council makes absolutely sure of, and the first item of business before proclaiming anyone king, is that he must first swear an oath on the Bible, and prove by signing his declaration with witnesses, to "maintain the settlement of the true Protestant religion": - because this was the rock on which the entire edifice of government in modern-day multi-cultural Britain was established, with its beliefs in the rule of law, constitutional government, government as an institution of service, and beliefs in toleration, freedom, progress and equality.

It is to stop the king getting above himself; and to stop the sovereign power from being licitly vacuumed up by foreign powers with their own agenda unfriendly to the interests and independence of the English people, a battle the English have had to fight repeatedly in history, to the benefit of all mankind.

That's why the band outside begins to play at this point.

Then the meeting authorises the use of the existing royal seals for various jurisdictions until new seals can be made.

Just as when you sign a document, you signify your approval, so the king signifies his agreement to decisions he approves by the royal seal.

The Australian Constitution vests the executive power of the Australian Commonwealth in the monarch who delegates it to his subordinate officer the Governor-General of Australia, by decisions under the royal seal. This item of business in the meeting was urgent because without it, there could be a gap in the manner of transmitting executive orders down the chain of command. The legitimacy of executive action would be cut off at the root.

Advertisement

This is the tap-root, the continuing legal connection between the Crown and the executive arm of government in the "realms": those countries including Australia which have the Crown as their head of state.

Government being a human institution, we have only imperfect human beings to run it. It has always been, remains, and will always be a magnet for people who want to exercise power over their fellow human beings. The struggle for liberty is always a work in progress against the behemoth. However in the scheme of things you could do a lot worse than receive this inheritance; and it is the reason so many people migrate from other countries to the United Kingdom, or its downstream realms including settled by the British diaspora.

 

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

4 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Justin Jefferson is an Australian who wishes to show that social co-operation is best and fairest when based in respect for individual freedom.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Justin Jefferson

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 4 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy