It was I that inquired as to the English throne's line of succession. Here's why:
BP is as much a symbol of the United Kingdom around the world as perhaps Big Ben (for you in PA, I don't mean your controversial QB). And the UK has been taking quite a ribbing in Europe, where the ruling class accepts man made global warming as settled science. So, undoubtedly in a coordinated move, Britain used one national symbol to lay down covering fire for another. The Prince of Whales gave a speech on the environment and his realm's commitment to it. And all that's fine if not expected. What I found "odd", if you will, was a few lines in which his highness, Chuck, explained how the world would be much better off if we were all to embrace the environmentally friendly tenants inherent within Islam. "Wtf?" was my initial reaction. What happened there? Had he taken leave of his senses? Did the Royal family take the time to take a shot at the newly elected PM (who is more hawkish then his predecessor)? Birth rate numbers, were they to hold at current, mean the UK (and all of Europe) will be at a 40% Muslim population by 2050. Is he throwing a bone to his inevitable subjects? "Hey, if you end up marching on White Hall, leave King William at Buckingham be." I just didn't get the statement, or its' reasoning. It echoed (not an exact comparison obviously) of Chamberlain.
At any rate, I consoled myself with the thought that at least he is not the reigning Monarch. That begged the question "why?", as I assumed when a King dies his eldest boy took the reigns. And there's the impetus behind our brief conversations on the matter.
For the record I now see why he is not King (& it's not because of his bizarre statements on Islam). The crown passes to the most direct heir of the last reigning monarch. Elizabeth II's father, the King, passed. His crown could not go to his wife, she was brought in by marriage. The direct line went to the eldest boy, and as the King had none it went to the eldest daughter - Lizzy II. And her husband could never assume the Crown, as he was brought in by marriage as well and not a direct blood descendent of the last Monarch. Charles is next in line as the eldest direct heir as it stands now, for the reasons just mentioned. After he it goes not to any of his siblings, but rather to his oldest heir, William. After that it will go to William's eldest child, less he has none, then it goes to Harry and his children realign the line of succession. It is all based on your relation to the last reigning monarch, male or female. Thank you Titus.
Oh and by the way. Tuesday night the PoTUS will address the nation live, on television. The topic? The BP oil spill. Perhaps he has assembled his list of "asses" to be kicked (as he put it on the Today Show). Classy guy huh?
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