Monarchical life has proved to be full of strict rules -most of them very old-fashioned- that reflect an exemplary life for the people. Also, it represents responsibilities for the institution of the Crown, such as diplomatic and political events (although in recent years the Queen’s influence in the public life of the United Kingdom has diminished considerably).
Nevertheless, Queen Elizabeth II is still a beloved figure among the people of England, and though there have been several attempts to dissolve the monarchy, her popularity remains intact, especially when events such as royal weddings become a popular event that attracts the attention of millions.
In addition to the myriad of responsibilities, the Queen has many benefits, especially when it comes to how the law is applied to her. For some crimes, anyone would be put behind bars for, she’s completely exempt. Here are some of them:
She can drive without a license or plates
What would normally get an ordinary person in any country in the world into trouble for Queen Elizabeth II, is no problem at all. She can get away with it.
She can refuse requests under the Freedom of Information Act
This act allows anyone in the UK to request records of any public person. However, both the Queen and the Royal Family are exempt from this after a legal battle that took place between The Guardian newspaper and the government requesting the personal correspondence of Prince Charles and the Prime Ministers.
Immunity from prosecution
Another of her legal advantages is that she cannot be compelled to give evidence at trial or be prosecuted.
She could kill and not be charged guilty
Since she cannot be prosecuted, she could murder someone and not be sentenced to jail. However, for the Crown’s protocols, if she were tu murder someone, she would need to prove that she did it to defend the Crown.
She doesn’t pay taxes
If she wanted to, she could evade taxes, as it’s not one of her duties as sovereign of the United Kingdom, although this doesn’t mean that she does. Every year since 1992, the Queen pays her taxes dutifully.
Stealing children
Technically, if Elizabeth wanted to, she could take custody of any child in the UK; however, this law is meant for children in the royal family. Established in 1717, the law states that the monarch has legal custody over her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This means that if she wanted, she could take any of the royal children from their parents without any repercussions.
Trespassing on private property
Queen Elizabeth II can enter any private property without notice any time she wants. The only place in the entire United Kingdom that she can’t enter without permission is the House of Commons (the lower house of the English Parliament). That is because in the 17th century King Charles I did so in an attempt to exact revenge on some MPs. He became the first European monarch to be executed by his people.
Although there is a legal loophole that allows the head of the British Crown to commit all these illicit acts, the truth is, Queen Elizabeth II has never committed them. On the contrary, she has been in charge of creating an almost spotless image to protect herself and the institution she represents.
Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
Read more:
Twilight Sleep: The Brutal Royal Birth Tradition Queen Elizabeth Went Through
What Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies?
