Royal Query

[Luzzly]

Bit of a strange question - but if Charles and William were run over by a bus, and George became king, would they put his face on coins and stamps whilst still a toddler? After the queen has passed on obviously.

[Jackdaw33]

Yes.

[Luzzly]

Are you guessing Jackdaw, or do you know that for a fact?

[Retrochic]

Would they not have Kate as Queen Dowager? A young child is not responsible and cannot rule a country

[Jackdaw33]

I know that for a fact. The head of the reigning monarch, be he 8 or 80 is displayed on all coins. Henry VI came to the throne at the age of 9 months in 1422 and his image was struck on all coins. There is no alternative, the monarch whatever his age, features on coinage.

[Jackdaw33]

@retro. There would be a regency until he reached the age of 18. If William were to die before becoming king she could not be Queen Mother as she would never have been queen. She may, however become part of a regency. Whenever a monarch accedes to the throne while the heir apparent is under age a Regency Act is passed by parliament. The last time this happened was when Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne while Prince Charles was only 3 years old. I believe that Princess Margaret was one of the regency council; there can be more than one.

[Retrochic]

jackdaw -very interesting. So in the scenario of both the queen,Charles and William all going under the number 27 bus. Would Georgie porgie be Prince regent? Going back to the Queen -I thought she was an adult (27) when she became queen so why would they need a Regency Council -she was next in line to the Throne.

[Jackdaw33]

1. He would not be Prince Regent, that office only applies when the monarch is deemed incapable. It has only happened once, in 1810 when the Prince of Wales was made regent after George III had finally lost the plot.

2. Whenever a monarch accedes to the throne while the heir apparent is in his minority a regency act is always passed to cater for the event in which the monarch should die before the heir reaches the age of majority.

[Goofy]

Amazing the things some people know!

[EDDIE51]

^if that happened a Prince Regent would be chosen to rule in George's place until he reached 18. George would be King, someone else would be Regent.

[Jackdaw33]

Yes but he/she would be merely regent, not Prince/Princess Regent.

[Marshwarble]

Historians have very short memories, Jackdaw. There were many Regents before Prince George and they were planning a Regent for Queen Victoria (see Young Victoria).

[Retrochic]

Jackdaw sorry but I don't understand why Elizabeth II needed a regency council when she acceded to the throne on the death of her father. Was it because she was female and therefore not next in line ,and in fact Charles was? If so why wasn't Charles crowned King when he reached adulthood?

[zebo]

The Regency Council, was because her Heir, Charles, was a minor. I wonder who would form the Regency Council under this speculative event, Andrew would be foaming at the mouth to be in there!

[Jackdaw33]

I agree. The distinction I was trying to make was between the title Regent and Prince Regent. The circumstances of George IV becoming Prince Regent were singular, as he was acting as king during his father's incapacity. With regard to Victoria, her mother was appointed regent. King William IV disliked her so much that he said publicly that his one ambition was to live until Victoria reached the age of 18, so that the Duchess of Kent would never become regent. He made it with a month to spare.

[THECORBYLOON]

A new Regency Act was passed because the 1937 Regency Act meant the future Regent would the one closest in line AND aged at least twenty-one. The 1953 Act was introduced so that Prince Philip would be Regent as although over twenty-one, he is not in the line of succession and Princess Margaret would otherwise have been Regent until Charles was twenty-one.

[zebo]

That would be Harry then, he's the next adult in line of succession.

[Jackdaw33]

Not necessarily, though likely. Regency is separated from the succession rights. Anyone can be appointed regent.

[THECORBYLOON]

JACKDAW the Regent must be the one closest in line of succession over twenty-one as per the 1937 Act which is in force still.