Atheist On The Throne

[Hopkirk]

What would happen if one of the heirs to the throne announced he was an atheist?

[cupid04]

We can't have that, oh no!

[pixie373]

We would all applaud :-)

[doctordb]

There would be a big sigh of relief that they were not converting to islam.

[Baldric]

Have they?
Is there a Link?
Where is the News element in this non story?

[jim360]

He wouldn't be an heir under the current rules, apparently. Only those who at the time of succession are Protestants (ie CofE) can succeed to the throne -- so he would have to convert before succeeding.

[pixie373]

Could he change his mind after, though, Jim?

[Canary42]

They would go the same way as Diana.

[Hopkirk]

Baldric, my question was 'what would happen if..?'

[doctordb]

^^^here we go.

[jim360]

I don't think that would work. The Monarch is head of the Church of England (and Scotland ?), so I don't think they'd be a fan of an atheist at the head of their Church -- and what atheist would want that role anyway?

[naomi24]

Under present rules I imagine he would be required to abdicate.

[Baldric]

//'what would happen if..?//

So it is,

. . . . . . News?

[weecalf]

If there was a space he/she would be okay A. Theist

[aelmpvw]

unlikely that someone born into wealth and privilege would think that there was no god

[Baldric]

Sorry Hopkirk, forgot to add this

//It is common practice to offer a link to the news article you would like to discuss//

[sp1814]

I think naomi24's right there. The monarch is the head of the CofE, so...he or she would probably have to abdicate.

Thinking along those lines...are Catholics still barred from being King or Queen???

[ludwig]

The monarchy's all about religion, so it wouldn't work. As Naomi said, they'd have to abdicate.

[Kromovaracun]

I was thinking of a not-dissimilar question the other day.

What would happen if a republican were elected PM? It's unlikely given that public opinion is broadly pro-monarchy, but just hypothetically, what would happen if the PM refused to go to Buckingham Palace and ask to form a government? Would he be required to step down? Would nothing happen?

[mushroom25]

presumably any republican elected to be PM would have campaigned on a platform of abolition. Thus at the time of coming to power he/she would begin to enact that policy. also at that time the monarch would still be constitutional head of state, so the PM-elect would still have to go to the palace - even if the opening gambit were to be "Hi Maj - you're history".