[Passed 10:1 , Royal Assent: 1st Jun 2019]
An ACT to amend the Succession to the Throne Act to provide for greater Parliamentary oversight for the designation of Heirs to the Throne and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Burgesses in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. SHORT TITLE
This bill may be cited for all purposes as “The Succession to the Throne Act (Amendment) Act 2019”
2. PROVIDING FOR GREATER PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF THE DESIGNATION OF A PRINCE/PRINCESS ROYAL:
A. Section 4.A of The Succession to the Throne Act 2016 is amended to read as follows: “Whenever the Sovereign shall designate an heir-apparent to the Throne, Parliament shall, as soon as it is able, deliberate on the designation. If Parliament is in session, the consideration of the heir-apparent shall take precedence over any other Parliamentary business, excepting the opening or dissolution of a Parliament. In the event Parliament is not sitting, Parliament shall consider the appointment as its first item of legislative business upon the resumption of Parliament. The Prime Minister shall then put forward a resolution declaring Parliament’s assent of the Sovereign’s designated heir-apparent to be the lawful successor to the Throne.”
B. Section 4.C of The Succession to the Throne Act 2016 is amended to read as follows: “Parliament shall debate the resolution providing Parliament’s assent to the designation of the nominated individual as heir-apparent of the Kingdom of Scone. If the resolution is adopted by Parliament, the Sovereign may subsequently appoint his nominee, in Council, by the elevation of his nominee to the style, title, and dignity of “Prince (or Princess) Royal,” by Letters Patent under the Great Seal. If the resolution is rejected by Parliament, that individual may not be designated as the heir-apparent unless Parliament later adopts a resolution providing its consent.”
B1. If the Lords and Burgesses shall sit separately, such a resolution must pass both houses in order to be adopted.
C. It shall not be lawful for Parliament to amend a resolution expressing its assent to the Sovereign’s designation of an heir-apparent to change the name of the designated person. During his reign, the Sovereign alone has the ability to designate an heir-apparent.
D. During consideration of such a resolution before Parliament, the designated heir-apparent may not participate in any votes related to the resolution even if they are a member of Parliament. If such an individual shall cast any votes during the consideration of that resolution, the Lord Chancellor or other moderator of Parliament shall disregard that vote. Such an individual may participate in debate on the resolution.
3. PRINCE/PRINCESS ROYAL TO HAVE A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT AND ACCESS TO THE HOUSE THE PEERS
Section 6.H of The Succession to the Throne Act 2016 is amended to read as follows: “The Prince (or Princess) Royal, as a citizen of the Kingdom of Scone, shall be entitled to a seat, a voice, and a vote in Parliament. The Prince (or Princess) Royal shall also be able to observe the proceedings of the House of Peers even if he (or she) is not a Peer. In the event the Prince (or Princess) Royal is not a peer, he (or she) shall have no vote or voice in the House of Peers unless he (or she) shall serve as Prince (or Princess) Regent. If he (or she) shall serve as Prince (or Princess) Regent, he (or she) shall have the ability to participate in debate and create new topics within the House of Peers for discussion, but not to vote.”
4. RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP SHALL DEPRIVE PRINCE/PRINCESS ROYAL OF TITLE
In the event that the Prince/Princess Royal shall renounce their Sconnish citizenship, they shall be immediately deprived of their title of Prince/Princess Royal.
5. PRINCE/PRINCESS ROYAL MAY BE REMOVED BY RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT
Section 6.i of the Succession to the Throne Act 2016 is amended as follows: “A Prince (or Princess) Royal, once lawfully appointed, may not be deprived of his (or her) title and inheritance except by a resolution of Parliament to that effect passed by both houses, whether they sit separately or jointly, or by voluntarily disclaiming that title in a letter presented to His Majesty the King, a copy of which shall be submitted to His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.
6. COMMENCEMENT
This legislation and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving the Royal Assent.