Category Archives: History

The Curious Legal Legacy Of The First Duke Of Sussex

Posted on February 23, 2021 by jasonloch

On April 4, 1793, Prince Augustus Frederick (later the first Duke of Sussex) secretly married Lady Augusta Murray at a hotel in Rome. Although it was a love match, their nuptials would ignite a legal firestorm that gave rise to … Continue reading →

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The Truth About Princess Beatrice’s Forthcoming Title

Posted on March 3, 2020 by jasonloch

The celebrity press has reported that Princess Beatrice will become an Italian countess upon her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. While it’s true that Mozzi is technically an Italian count, foreign titles of nobility have no legal status in the … Continue reading →

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Impeachment In The United Kingdom

Posted on September 28, 2019 by jasonloch

Impeachment has been in the news lately on both sides of the Atlantic. While Democrats in the United States House of Representatives have formally launched impeachment proceedings against President Trump, Plaid Cymru’s leader in the Commons has suggested that Boris … Continue reading →

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The Vicar Who Claimed A Seat In The Commons

Posted on July 17, 2018 by jasonloch

On November 30, 1965, a Church of England vicar named Christopher Wansey tried to enter the chamber of the House of Commons. Although he wasn’t an MP,[1] he was a proctor for the Diocese of Chelmsford in the Convocation of … Continue reading →

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Great Offices Of State vs. Great Officers Of State

Posted on May 10, 2018 by jasonloch

When Sajid Javid was appointed Home Secretary, he became the first person of color to hold one of the Great Offices of State. However, he is not the first person of color to be a Great Officer of State–that honor … Continue reading →

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The BBC’s History Fail

Posted on May 6, 2015 by jasonloch

The BBC needs to brush up on their history. When discussing possible outcomes for tomorrow’s General Election, they made the following claim: The prime minister could resign, after being defeated on the Queen’s Speech for example, and hand power to the … Continue reading →

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Why Is Simon de Montfort’s Parliament Significant?

Posted on January 20, 2015 by jasonloch

Today is the 750th anniversary of the meeting of Simon de Montfort’s Parliament. In honor of the occasion, the BBC teamed up with both Houses of Parliament for ‘Democracy Day,’ a series of events and discussions focusing on the past, … Continue reading →

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A Labyrinth of Words

Posted on November 18, 2014 by jasonloch

In honor of the Queen giving her Royal Assent and License to Amending Canon No. 33, I thought I’d post this delightfully arcane example of similar instrument from Queen Victoria’s reign. It is, without a doubt, one of the most grandiloquent documents … Continue reading →

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The Road Not Taken: the Government of Scotland Bill

Posted on September 16, 2014 by jasonloch

The years leading up to World War I were a time of great constitutional upheaval in the United Kingdom. The protracted struggle over Irish home rule is well known.[1] But while Parliament was agonizing over Ireland, backbench Liberal MPs were … Continue reading →

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Cracking a Nut With a Sledgehammer: The Public Worship Regulation Act 1874

Posted on August 7, 2014 by jasonloch

On August 7, 1874, one of the most ill-conceived pieces of legislation in history received Royal Assent. The Public Worship Regulation Act 1874 (37 & 38 Vict. c. 85) was a surprisingly un-Anglican attempt to stamp out liturgical pluralism, and it … Continue reading →

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