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Comment by defrost | Hacker News Reader

The power of monarchy has been steadily whittled away in the UK since 1066.

The last bill that was refused assent was the Scottish Militia Bill during Queen Anne's reign in 1708.

In Australia, my country, presenting law for Royal Assent is a rubber stamp, a symbolic act that transcends the current elected government houses.

Should "Royal Assent" be refused by the Crowns agent in Australia you'd see the country exit, the Crown is there for show, not to get involved or to meddle with the work of the elected Government.

I suspect Canada, New Zealand, et al are similar.

You could always point to an instance in which the Crown refused Royal Assent if you'd care to.

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And even that Bill was refused assent as Parliament asked Queen Anne to do so as they wanted to make some changes to it.

As I said, the symbol itself is evil. But it seems you agree Royal Assent is legally required. It's a monarchy. Don't gaslight people into thinking it isn't.

It's a sham monarchy.

Don't gaslight people into thinking it has any real power.

The King has to rubber stamp assent, albeit with bloody ink pen, but it's symbolic like any other bit of pagentry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Encm187scA

The power it once had has been whittled away to F-all.

    Magna Carta was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law.

You are intentionally ignoring my point about how the symbolic nature itself is evil. It is unconscionable to have a monarchy as a symbol of a country! A monarchy is an affront to human decency; it's absurd.

And I do not agree with your assessment that the king has no real power. A gentleman's agreement not to be a tyrant is not even close to good enough. I don't dispute it would cause lots of drama if the king tried to defy government, but he can do it. The guy is allowed to murder anyone he wants, he has full immunity from criminal prosecution! Is that a symbol worth protecting? No. It should be torn down and cast out.

Any respectable modern system of governance would not want even a whiff of an impression that it was led by a bloodline of kings. Yet, the UK and Commonwealth countries lean into it. A crown is a symbol of oppression. It's disgusting.