Would you know the first ten in line for the throne? I was surprised by some of them. Have a try - the answers are below this line.
Answers: Charles, William, Henry, Andrew, Beatrice, Eugenie, Edward, James Philip, Louise Windsor, Anne
8 and 9 surprised me. Meanwhile, over in Denmark, a curious referendum has taken place, changing the line of succession:
One wonders why that was necessary, given that both Frederik [still young] and Christian are yet to succeed. That's around 80 years before it becomes relevant or is it that someone has an agenda to bump off the male royals?
Answers: Charles, William, Henry, Andrew, Beatrice, Eugenie, Edward, James Philip, Louise Windsor, Anne
8 and 9 surprised me. Meanwhile, over in Denmark, a curious referendum has taken place, changing the line of succession:
The change, already cleared by parliament, was approved by 85.4 per cent of voters. It will ensure that the first-born child of any future monarch will succeed to the throne, regardless of gender.
One wonders why that was necessary, given that both Frederik [still young] and Christian are yet to succeed. That's around 80 years before it becomes relevant or is it that someone has an agenda to bump off the male royals?
More likely, it is this PC thing again - unnecessary measures taken on principle.
Hmmff.
ReplyDeleteI'm a monarchist. I like the institution as the lynchpin of our constitution and how it might be protected agaisnt an interior revolution from Parliament - the soldier's oath being the clue here.
I don't think that girls are less royal or legitimate than the boys and despite Prince Andrew's fine military service, I don't see why in this day and age Princess Anne should be sidelined for him.
Sometimes change is needful, and letting the women into th eline of succession in their own right rather tha as the daughters of male heirs might be a good one to make.
Since the country as a whole does not believe that women are more weak-willed or stupider than men (compare Mrs Thatcher and John Major, for example), there is a strong argument for not losing their talent or potential as the crown is no longer awarded and preserved on the battlefield.
I'd go for such a change here, myself.
But who ever asks us Joe Public what we'd wants? EU membership, anyone?
I did work out the first ten. Lord help us if the throne ever goes to Air Miles Andy! I don't think it's a bad thing to recognise that there is no salic law in the Danish Constitution.
ReplyDeletePS: I agree with North Northwester re Anne, who would probably make a better monarch than any of them, as it seems we are stuck with the institution.
ReplyDeleteI think James Higham is the one for the throne.
ReplyDeleteI don't see whats PC about treating male and female royal offspring equally.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the proposal itself, Jams but the motivation behind it. There was no practical necessity, in Denmark, for it to happen in 2009.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Danish Government thought it was high time to do away with an anachronism
ReplyDeletePerhaps but then that makes it a cynical exercise for them.
ReplyDelete