Modern kings and queens

[mollykins]

After my mum watched a programme about westminster abbey (I think) she said that our kings and queens believe that they were chosen by god to rule the country.

And according to a survey, at the time of the coronation 1/4 of the countries population also believed this.

Can you imagine William or Harry (even though it's unlikely he'll get to be king) genuinely believing this, of course they'd have to go along with it, but still . . . .

[Huderon]

Mollykins, I think your mum is thinking of the divine right of kings (Google it), which was abandoned in this country when William of Orange was invited to become king and parliament insisted that the monarch should agree to abide by the laws enacted by the government. There is still a bit of a hangover of it though, in that all laws have to receive Royal Assent before becoming Acts of Parliament, but Royal Assent is just a formality these days.

[Huderon]

Oh yes, there is at least one other hangover from the Divine Right of Kings ... a monarch is crowned by a senior member of the church and is also anointed with oil as part of the ceremony.

[Andyvon]

The moment the holy oil touches the monarch's head they are deemed to have been appointed by God.

Of course thinking changes over time, but it was always believed that the monarch had been selected by God to rule the country and the annointing by the Archbishop of Canterbury was the proof. The monarch then had God's blessing to rule the nation - the Divine Right of Kings. Now we accept the monarch accedes by birth and tradition but many people still believe in God and his workings.

I would rather maintain our traditions which are far more tasteful than the self-aggrandising and money-grabbing criminals who manipulate the press to get themselves elected to Westminster where they preside over the destruction of a once proud and respected nation and people while filling their own pockets!

[mike11111]

The monarch has not always been crowned by a senior churchman. On the accession of Elizabeth I all the archbishops and bishops were catholics appointed under Queen Mary I and all refused to crown her except the bishop of Carlisle, who got the job.

[mike11111]

Bishop Oglethorpe's reward for agreeing to crown the Queen was to be deprived of his see as he had twice ignored her explicit instructions not to elevate the Host during communion, causing her to walk out of her own coronation.

[woofgang]

to answer your question, yes I can imagine William or Harry believing this

[mollykins]

Thanks for all the info guys.

really woof . . .