In his 2006 book King and Country - Monarchy and the future King Charles III, Robert Blackburn takes a pragmatic pro-monarchy stance. Blackburn reveals the difficult legal route for Prince Charles' second marriage, the powers of a future King, the attitude of Prince Charles to the title "Defender of the Faith" and the future of the succession law and the possibility of Prince William succeeding the Queen. Significantly, Blackburn also looks at the issue of republicanism in Great Britain.
Publisher: Politico's Publishing
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 10 1-84275-141-7
Pages: 187
While the book's pro-monarchy stance is obvious, Blackburn acknowledges the challenges facing a future King Charles III. As such Blackburn suggests "modernising" the monarchy, and a number of ways a more politically active King might get around difficult political issues.
The most disappointing aspect of the book is Blackburns analysis of republican arguments. While it is significant that a book on the future of the monarchy has looked at the issue of republicanism, the authors analysis is confined to simply noting that an elected head of state might face the same sorts of issue Prince Charles may face. There is no deeper analysis, although that is not unexpected.
Also disappointing is that lack of mention of the Commonwealth countries Charles may become the head of state of, with the exception of Australia. While the Australian republic debate is mentioned, the author seems uninterested in the debate, putting it to one side. It seems the survival of the monarchy in Britain is more important than in Britain's former colonies. The only real link between the "old Commonwealth" and the future of the monarchy is the succession law, and the need to consult should it be changed.
A number of interesting constitutional points are raised by the book. First, in order for Prince Charles to marry Camilla, he had to first gain permission from the Prime Minister. As absurd as it seems that anyone should have to ask the head of government whether they can marry, the constitutional reality of the Prime Ministers powers is highlighted. Even more absurd, if not ironic, is the fact that the legal opinion for the Prime Minister supporting Charles' right to marry Camilla is based on the Human Rights Act 1998, a piece of legislation the monarch's succession law contradicts.
Even more ironic is the mention of King Edward VIII's reign. While the author puts his focus on comparing Charles' marriage to Camilla to Edward's marriage to Wallis Simpson, the real comparison should have been on the political views of each monarch, and their clashes with Prime Ministers. As Susan Williams argued in The People's King - The True Story of the Abdication, the real reason why the Conservative government wanted to get rid of King Edward VIII was because of his political views.
Blackburn suggests Prince Charles might take the same route as King Baudoin of Belgium, who was declared unable to reign so that the government of the day could pass an abortion law he was opposed to. Blackburn argues that by using the Regency Act 1953, Charles could have himself declared incapacitated should any legislation come before him he feels he is unable to grant Royal Assent to.
Overall, Blackburn's book is an excellent insight into the constitutional machinations of the monarchy. However, it is written in a strictly British context and is too uncritical of its subject. Nonetheless, it is an important book on the future of the monarchy.
