Queen did not block legislation, Buckingham Palace says

PA Media

Claims the Queen blocked government legislation in the 1970s are "simply incorrect", Buckingham Palace says.

Documents published by the Guardian suggest the monarch's personal lawyers successfully lobbied ministers to change a draft law in order to conceal her private wealth.

The papers were unearthed as part of an investigation into a process known as Queen's consent.

Queen's consent is always granted where requested, the palace said.

Queen's consent is a long-established convention where the Queen is asked by Parliament to provide consent for the debating of bills "which would affect the prerogative or interests of the Crown", according to the Royal Family's website.

This process is separate to Royal Assent, where the monarch formally approves to a bill passed by Parliament for it to become law.

Royal Assent has not been refused since 1708.

• Royal accounts show potential £35m Covid shortfall
• Queen and Prince Philip get Covid vaccine
• New £5 coin to mark Queen's 95th birthday

The government memos, found in the National Archives, date back to 1973.

They show that the Queen, concerned that new legislation might force her to reveal her private holdings in companies, despatched lawyers to argue her case with the then Department of Trade and Industry.

A revision to the draft law subsequently enabled her as a head of state to sidestep the new regulations.

The Guardian suggests that early sight of the draft legislation, under the powers of Queen's consent, gave the monarch an unrivalled opportunity to influence the legislation to her advantage.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Queen's consent is a parliamentary process, with the role of sovereign purely formal. Consent is always granted by the monarch where requested by government. Any assertion that the sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect.

"Whether Queen's consent is required is decided by parliament, independently from the royal household, in matters that would affect Crown interests, including personal property and personal interests of the monarch.

"If consent is required, draft legislation is, by convention, put to the sovereign to grant solely on advice of ministers and as a matter of public record."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

February 08, 2021 at 10:05PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55975199