Unveiling the Royal Monarch’s Control Over England
Introduction
At the heart of the United Kingdom's constitutional framework lies a deeply entrenched principle: the concept of sovereign immunity. This principle, which historically shielded the monarch from legal accountability, has evolved into a more complex and covert system of power. Contrary to popular belief, the United Kingdom, often touted as a commonwealth of nations, is under the unspoken and absolute control of the British monarch. This article aims to expose the layers of sovereign immunity that protect the royal family, the secretive influence exerted over national institutions, and the potential misuse of power that remains unchecked by democratic processes.
Sovereign Immunity and the Myth of a Commonwealth
Sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that absolves the sovereign from being sued or prosecuted, was originally established to protect the monarch from personal liability. Over time, this immunity has morphed into a pervasive and opaque mechanism of control. The term "commonwealth" suggests a shared governance and mutual benefit among nations, but in practice, the UK operates under the pretense of commonwealth ideals while maintaining a tightly controlled hierarchy with the monarch at its apex.
The Royal Monarch’s Absolute Control
Despite the UK's democratic institutions and its supposed parliamentary sovereignty, the real power remains concentrated within the monarchy. The royal family wields immense influence over key institutions, including the Royal Navy, the military, and the intelligence agencies.
In the United Kingdom, members of the armed forces and intelligence services swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch. This tradition reflects the UK's constitutional monarchy and the principle that the monarchy is the head of state. Members of the UK intelligence agencies, such as MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, also swear an oath of allegiance. This oath emphasizes confidentiality and loyalty to the monarch and the government.
This oath of allegiance is not merely symbolic but has profound implications. It places the monarch in a position of unparalleled authority, enabling them to exert control over legislative processes and national security. The monarch’s final say on matters of legislation is not merely ceremonial; it extends to the power to influence or obstruct laws and policies according to personal or clandestine interests.
The swearing of allegiance to the monarch underlines the role of the Crown in the UK's constitutional framework and the traditional connection between the British state and its armed and intelligence services.
Unchecked Power and Secret Activities
The unchecked power of the royal monarch raises serious concerns about the potential for abuse. Theoretically, with the royal family beyond the reach of standard legal and political accountability, they could, hypothetically, orchestrate or endorse illegal activities such as terrorism or narcotics trafficking without fear of reprisal. This shadowy capability is facilitated by their control over military and intelligence assets, which can be redirected to serve private or nefarious agendas.
Such actions, while speculative, are supported by historical instances where monarchs and royal figures have manipulated power structures for personal gain or to avoid accountability. The continuation of this practice in modern times, under the guise of democratic governance, highlights the urgent need for transparency and reform.
The Royals Will Do Anything to Keep Their Secrets Buried
An Index on Censorship report reveals how hard it is to obtain information about the royal family, making a mockery of claims the institution is determined to be more transparent. The House of Windsor is a house of secrets. Many secrets. For many decades the royal family has edited the records of its role by rigorously controlling access to its archives and to royal files in Britain’s National Archives. But this mania for secrecy is being seriously challenged for the first time by a broad new alliance of journalists and historians who contributed to a new report by the Index on Censorship.
One historian calls the royal family “the real enemies of history.” Another says that the family’s “excessive secrecy combined with the length of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II means we probably have no more accurate a sense of how the monarchy has operated in our lifetimes than our grandparents and great-grandparents had in theirs.”
Index on Censorship is a London-based nonprofit that for fifty years has tracked censorship systems around the world. Introducing the report, they say: “The Index wouldn’t be doing a good job if it didn’t keep an eye on attacks to free expression that happen on home soil… the results of our special report are eye-opening. The number of historic files on the Royal Family which are unavailable, and the absurdity of the reasons for denying access to some of them, is staggering. Many historians and journalists are unable to carry out their work as a result.”
In Britain, many campaigns over many years for more transparency in government slowly opened up more access to the records of governments, law makers and officials: Between 1958 and 2010 the time during which public records could be kept secret shrank from 50 years to 20. And yet the royal family has not yielded an inch in keeping its secrets. Last year, Prince Philip’s will was put under seal for 90 years.
Successive governments have failed to change this. In fact, when the British version of a Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2000 the royal family was allowed to remain immune to it. It seems that the ultimate privilege among many enjoyed by the family is to escape accountability for anything they say or do and—more consequentially—they continue to frustrate historians by erasing from the records anything showing them in a negative light.
The dirtiest secret of all is probably the royal censorship system itself. In the kind of totalitarian state censorship systems normally tracked by the Index on Censorship—China, Russia, Iran—the actual censors are known and appear, the rules, however odious, are clear and the penalties often severe. They all have a known hierarchy, from the top down. Here, with the Windsors, nothing is transparent: how the system actually works, who holds the power to either keep closed or destroy files, and whose interests are being served.
The Need for Reform
The time has come for a thorough examination of the hidden dynamics at play and for taking concrete steps to ensure that power remains firmly within the bounds of accountability and public interest.
A Free UK
As the world navigates complex geopolitical landscapes, there may come a time when America, in its commitment to global democratic values and human rights, finds itself needing to intervene to liberate Britain from a reimposed authoritarian state by the monarch. Such a scenario, though speculative, underscores the necessity of vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard democratic principles and prevent the resurgence of unchecked autocratic rule. The principles of transparency, accountability, and democratic governance are paramount not only for the United Kingdom but for the global community at large, ensuring that power remains aligned with the ideals of justice and equity.
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