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The Monarchy of New England

The Monarch of New England is the head of state of New England, and is the source of all executive, judicial and legislative power and authority. Although the monarch plays an important ceremonial and advisory role, in practice New England uses the Westminster system of constitutional monarchy, so the power of the monarch is greatly limited by a series of conventions that refer most powers to the First Minister and the House of Assembly.

The present monarch is King James II, who has reigned since 9 December 2045. The heir apparent is his eldest son, Crown Prince Alexander, Duke of Duval. The Duke undertakes various public ceremonial functions, as does the king's wife, Princess Amber, Duchess of Chandler. There are several other members of Royal Family besides those aforementioned, including the King's other children and grandchildren.

• Powers
  • Forming Governments
  • Elections
  • Judicial Authority
  • Honours System
  • Declaring War and Making Peace
  • Passports and Residency
  • Royal Charters
• Monarchs of New England
• Members of the Royal Family
• Forms of Address
• Succession
• Residences

Powers

In theory, the Monarch is all powerful and constitutionally can act according to their own wishes. In reality the situation is much different, with §17 of the Constitution of New England stating that: "The powers and functions conferred on the Monarch by this Constitution shall be exercisable and performable by him only on the advice of the Executive Council, save where it is provided by this Constitution that he shall act in his absolute discretion or after consultation with or in relation to the Executive Council, or on the advice or nomination of, or on receipt of any other communication from, any other person or body". The most fundamental power of the monarch is the Royal Assent, where he must formally assent to all Acts of Parliament before they can become law, but there are also a number of other powers that the monarch may exercise, as listed below.

Like the British monarchy, the Monarch has the right to be consulted, the right to advise and the right to warn. Such advice is highly valued by First Ministers, as the monarch has a vast amount of working knowledge through years of being kept fully informed by ministers and receiving copies of all state documentation (the so-called "red boxes") such as Executive Council memoranda, reports from the diplomatic service and intelligence service briefings. The current Monarch has been a member of the Executive Council since 2038, a period longer than any other person, and is considered to be the most well versed and up to date of all the members of the Council.

Forming Governments - The King maintains the power to appoint a government, usually immediately after an election. The choice of First Minister is entirely up to the King, although he is guided by the results of an election and who is the most likely to enjoy a majority in the House of Assembly. The government, in theory, holds office only at the pleasure of the monarch. This has come to mean that the King can remove a government if that is the will of the parliament or the people directly via a loss of confidence or an election. On the advice of the First Minister, the King can appoint and dismiss Ministers to the Executive Council. The King also formally appoints all Earls and Thains after the results of county elections are known.

Elections - Likewise, the King has the power to call elections of the Parliament and Counties. By law, elections must be held every four years, but the King can intervene and dissolve parliament early if it's members cannot agree to form a government. A First Minister cannot call an election early for political gain, with the only situation warranting early elections being the aforementioned state of events. Even in this situation the monarch can refuse a dissolution if the existing Parliament is still vital, viable, and capable of doing its job or if the monarch can rely on finding another First Minister who could govern for a reasonable period with a working majority in the House of Assembly (as happened in 2026). All by-elections are also called by the King upon written notification of a vacancy being tended to him by the Speaker or Earl of the county in question.

Judicial Authority and Pardons - Under New England law, all prosecutions are made on behalf of the Monarch, and judges make decisions in his or her name. All judicial appointments are made by the King, on the advice of the Judicial Appointments Commission. Because he is the source of all judicial power, a monarch cannot be brought to trial in any court, with Parliament reserving the right to deal with a Monarch that has broken the law. The King has no power to dispense justice, and can be only asked to issue a pardon as a final avenue of appeal, although this power has been referred to the Attorney-General. §22 of the Constitution states that: "The right of pardon and the power to commute or remit punishment imposed by any court exercising criminal jurisdiction are hereby vested in the King, but such power of commutation or remission may also be conferred by law on other authorities".

Honours System - The King by virtue of his official position, has the exclusive right of conferring all of dignities and honours in the New England Honours System as the fount of honour. Candidates are identified by public or private bodies, by government departments or are nominated by members of the public. Depending on their roles, those people selected by committee are submitted either to the First Minister or Minister of Defence for their approval before being sent to the monarch for final approval. Certain honours are awarded solely at the monarch's discretion, such as the Order of Servetus and the Order of Merit.

Declaring War and Making Peace - A formal declaration of war has only been issued once, which was issued to the Australian High Commissioner by King Michael in July 2032. The Criminal Code Act 2012 makes it offence to wage war unless the as the reasons for doing so have a sound standing in international law. The parliament must issue a casus belli against a foreign power or potentate within ninety days of declaring war for it to be legal. The monarch may negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements, with no parliamentary approval required. However, a treaty cannot alter the domestic laws of New England without an act of parliament.

Passports and Residency - The King has the sole power to issue and revoke passports, which are issued in his name. On the advice of the Attorney-General, a person can have their passport refused or revoked if they are believed to be of sinister character or attempting to evade justice. All people wishing to become New Englanders taken a oath of citizenship, which include pledging loyalty to the King. The Minister of Home Affairs can advise the King to expel any foreign citizen from the Kingdom if they have committed an offence or entered New England illegally. The monarch also accredits High Commissioners and ambassadors, and receives diplomats from foreign states.

Royal Charters - Charters are issued by the King to legitimise an incorporated government body, such as a City, crown statutory agency or University. Other bodies, such as charities and professional institutions, may also receive a Charter. To receive a Royal Charter, the organisation must be a professionally accredited body with five thousand members or more. They also must be financially sound, and it must be in the public interest to regulate the institution under a charter. Such organisations are entitled carry the prefix "Royal" once a Royal Charter has been issued to regulate their operation. Examples include the Royal Agricultural and Grazing Society and the Royal Military College, Thalgarrah.

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Monarchs of New England

Under the provisions of the Royal Successions Act, the Monarch succeeds by virtue of being the eldest living descendent of King Michael, the first King of New England. To date, there have been three Monarchs of New England:

Members of the Royal Family

His Majesty King James II (Edgar Christian Michael Williams), is the current King and Head of State of the Kingdom of New England. The King was born on 8 September 1996 in Armidale Hospital, the second eldest child of Michael Williams (later HM King Michael of New England) and the younger brother of King James I. The King has reigned since 9 December 2045. Prior to his ascension, he was known as the Duke of Duval.

Her Royal Highness Princess Amber, Duchess of Chandler (Amber Lauren Tara Williams), is the Princess Consort to His Majesty King James II. The Princess was born in Gunnedah, Australia on 3 March 2000, the eldest child of Tony and Gina Johnson of Emerald Hill. When she was fourteen, the family moved to Grafton and became New Englanders. She married the then Duke of Duval on 6 June 2023 in the National Cathedral.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander, Duke of Duval (Alexander James Michael Williams), was born on 15 June 2025. Prince Alexander is the eldest son of HM King James II and Princess Amber, and is first in the order of succession to the throne. The Prince is married to His Highness Prince Simon Chamberlain-Williams and is the father of HRH Prince Michael of Duval (Michael Edgar Alexander Simon Williams) who was born on 6 February 2052. Prince Michael is the second in line to throne.

Her Highness Princess Kate (Kate Amber Louise Christine Dawkins) was born on 4 December 2026. The princess is second child of James II and is therefore third in the line of succession. Her Highness is married to Lord Bradley Dawkins and the couple have two children, Peter James Dawkins (born 2051) and Nicole Amber Dawkins (born 2052). The children are forth and fifth in line to throne respectively.

His Highness Prince Richard (Richard Michael Thomas James Williams) was born on 28 February 2028. He is the youngest child of James II and is currently sixth in line to the throne by the order of succession. He is married to Lady Elsa Williams-Wechsler and the couple's two children are Edgar Richard Williams (born 2049) and John Michael Williams (born 2051).

Her Royal Highness Princess Christine, The Dowager Duchess of Chandler (Christine Michelle Kate Williams) was born in Armidale on 17 May 1972 and was married to HM King Michael before his death in 2036. The Dowager Duchess is the mother of King James I (1994 - 2045), King James II (born 1996), Lucy Turner (born 1999) and Gavin Williams (born 2002).

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Forms of Address

Under the provisions of the Royal Titles Act, there have been a number of alterations made to the traditional European structure of noble titles. The descendents of the reigning monarch may use the title His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) and are considered to be a Prince or Princess of the Realm, while all other descendents may use His/Her Highness (HH). Currently, Prince Alexander and his son, Prince Michael may use the title HRH as well Princess Kate Dawkins and Prince Richard Williams.

Once the the monarch dies, the eldest descendent succeeds to the throne. Only their children may continue to use these titles. Brothers and sisters of the deceased monarch and their children cease to be addressed as HRH and become commoners, but as a courtesy, are known as His/Her Highness. For example, if the Duke of Duval becomes King, Princess Kate Dawkins will lose the title HRH. She will still remain in the line of succession, and would have her title restored if she becomes the monarch.This title is not passed to their children, nor is carried by their spouse.

The heir to the throne is (usually) automatically ennobled as the Duke of Duval by the Witan at the proclamation of the succession. This proclamation occurs regardless of the status (apparent or presumptive) of the heir.

The present Monarch's style is James II, by the Grace and Will of the People, King of New England.

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Succession

Upon the death of a Monarch, the Witan meets at Parliament House. Attending are the members of the House of Assembly, Thegns of the Counties, Justices of the Supreme Court, Lords-Marshal and Lords-Spiritual of the Kingdom and sixteen appointed members of the public who are considered to be of high standing. The Council makes a proclamation declaring the death of the previous monarch and names the individual who is to succeed to the Crown. The proclamation is then read aloud on radio and television, and from the balcony of Parliament.

The Order of Succession is lineal, so that only a child who is a descendent of King Michael of New England, and who is born in lawful wedlock of the reigning King or Queen, or of one who is herself or himself entitled to the succession may succeed, and so that the nearest line shall take precedence over the more remote and the elder in the line over the younger.

An unborn child may also be included among those entitled to the succession and shall immediately take her or his proper place in the line of succession as soon as she or he is born. Natural born children shall automatically have precedence over adopted children, regardless of the decent of their adoptive parents. The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any person who is not born in the direct line of descent from King Michael or a sister or brother thereof, or is herself or himself a sister or brother thereof, unless no remaining descendents remain.

As of 1 June, 2052

1. HRH Crown Prince Alexander, Duke of Duval
2. HRH Prince Michael Williams
3. HRH Princess Kate Dawkins
4. HH Master Peter Dawkins
5. HH Lady Nicole Dawkins
6. HRH Prince Richard Williams
7. HH Master Edgar Williams
8. HH Master John Williams
9. HH Princess Lucy Turner
10. Master Anthony Turner
11. Miss Avril Turner
12. Master Timothy Turner
13. HH Prince Gavin Williams
14. Master Rhys Williams
15. Master Evan Williams

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Residences

All members of the Royal Family reside at one or more of the official Crown Estates of the Kingdom. The monarch's primary official residence is Saumarez House in the Armidale. Saumarez House and it's surrounding estate is the site of most state banquets, investitures, royal christenings, and other ceremonies. Moreover, visiting heads of state usually stay in Saumarez House during their visit. Another principal residence is Jeogla Station, a large working sheep and cattle property located near Jeogla, Guyrashire. Jeogla Station is used principally as a weekend retreat; the monarch also resides there during the Royal National Exhibition, an annual agricultural and industrial show that forms a major part of the social calendar.

There also exist a number of other houses and estates not used as residences by the monarch. Longford Station is the home of the Duke of Duval and his family. Orchard House is the home to Princess Kate and her family. Prince Richard resides at White Cottage. The dowager Duchess of Chandler, Princess Christine, also lives on the Saumarez Estate, with her home being Dumaresq House.

The aforementioned residences belong to the Crown Estates Commission, they are held in trust for future rulers, and cannot be sold by the monarch. However, the monarch does own certain homes in a private capacity. Clarence House, a privately owned beach house near the town of Illuka, is typically used from Christmas to the end of January. The King's New Year Message is also broadcast from here and it is where most, if not all, members of the Royal family will spend some of their summer months.

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