Royal Family and the Law

[searchlight]

Are they above the law under certain circumstances. I think some of them have been done for motoring offences but could a prominent/senior member in theory be sent to jail for a serious offence or would it be house detention/arrest or exile to another country perhaps?

[mike11111]

No member of the Royal Family is above the law, with the possible exception of the monarch in certain cirumstances. The normal procedures and penalties apply to all other members. Whether they would be enforced in practice is another matter.

[lardhelmet]

Your last sentence says it all mike "whether they would be enforced in practice is another matter" - cos the powers that be wouldn't enforce it would they?

[BlunderBus01]

I hate to say it but the 'Queen is above the law'. In her role as sovereign she is immune from prosecution. On top of this, in English caselaw (can't recall the case off the top of my head), it was held by a former Lord Chief Justice that the monarch could not be required to give evidence in the courtroom.

Prosectution is brought in the name of the monarch and so she can also intervene. A typical example of this is when the theft trial against Paul Burrell collapsed. No doubt plenty of lawyers with Republican tendencies would like to argue that in the advent of the HRA98, things have changed. The chances of success?... What do you think?

I don't pretend to be unbiased by the way. I am a proud Republican and am unreservedly opposed to the monarcy, the whitest of white elephants.

[BlunderBus01]

By the way, sorry for the many spelling mistakes there!! :)

[R1Geezer]

The Queen alone is technically above the law, however any noticable transgression would result in the collapse of the monarchy and then a trial under the republic that would result. See Charles 1!