Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to provide for the alteration of the Royal Style and Titles and of the Style of Parliament and for purposes incidental thereto. |
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| Citation | 17 & 18 Geo. 5. c. 4 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 April 1927 |
| Commencement | 12 April 1927 |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 was a special law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This law allowed changes to the official titles used by the British King or Queen. It also changed the formal name of the British Parliament itself.
These changes happened because most of Ireland became a separate country called the Irish Free State. Before this, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Act became law on April 12, 1927, when it received royal assent (the King's official approval).
Contents
Why Was This Act Needed?
Ireland's New Status
In December 1922, a big change happened. Most of Ireland separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It became a new, independent country called the Irish Free State.
However, six counties in the north-east of Ireland, known as Northern Ireland, chose to stay part of the United Kingdom. This meant the country's name and the King's titles no longer fully matched the new situation.
Changing the King's Title
Before 1927, the King's full title was very long. It included "of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." This title was set by the Royal Titles Act 1901.
Leaders from the British government and other Dominions (countries like Canada or Australia that were part of the British Empire) met in 1926. They agreed that the King's title needed an update. The old title didn't make sense anymore, especially with the Irish Free State being a separate Dominion.
They decided the new title should say "of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King." This change would better reflect the new political map.
How the Law Was Passed
To change the King's official titles, a new law had to be passed. This law had to come from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Once passed, it would automatically apply to all the Dominions.
The British government introduced the new law, called a bill, in March 1927. It quickly passed through both parts of Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
What Did the Act Do?
The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 made three main changes.
Changing the King's Titles
First, the Act gave King George V permission to issue a special announcement. This announcement, called a royal proclamation, would officially change his royal titles. The Act itself didn't list the new titles. Instead, it allowed the King to announce them within six months.
Renaming Parliament
Second, the Act formally changed the name of the Parliament that meets in Westminster, London. Before, it was called "Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."
After the Act, its new name became "Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." This new name clearly showed that Northern Ireland was still part of the UK.
Defining "United Kingdom"
Finally, the Act made it clear what "United Kingdom" meant in future laws and official papers. From then on, "United Kingdom" would mean Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This would be true unless a document specifically stated otherwise.
On May 13, 1927, King George V issued the royal proclamation. This proclamation officially changed his titles, just as the Act allowed. It replaced "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" with "Great Britain, Ireland."
The official seals, like the Great Seal of the Realm, were also updated. New designs were made to show the change in the King's titles.
What Happened Later?
Over the next 25 years, the relationship between the different parts of the British Commonwealth kept changing.
New Commonwealth Changes
Important events included the Statute of Westminster 1931. This law gave more independence to the Dominions. Also, the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 declared Ireland a republic, and it left the Commonwealth.
India also became a republic but wanted to stay in the Commonwealth. These changes meant the Commonwealth was evolving.
Further Title Changes
In 1948, the royal titles were changed again. The title "Emperor of India" was removed because India had become independent.
When Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952, there was another chance to update the titles. From then on, each Commonwealth realm (countries that still have the British monarch as their head of state) would pass its own law for the royal titles.
For the United Kingdom, this new law was the Royal Titles Act 1953. The reference to "Ireland" in the royal title was not changed to "Northern Ireland" until May 1953.
See also
- Style of the British sovereign
- Title and style of the Canadian monarch
- Royal Style and Titles Act
