CoA rejects Saudi bid to have case held in camera – The Lawyer

Posted July 11th, 2013 in appeals, human rights, news, private hearings, royal family by sally

The Court of Appeal has refused to quash an order preventing two Saudi princes from having their case heard behind closed doors.

Full story

The Lawyer, 10th July 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

The Prince Charles veto: JR fails due to availability of JR – Panopticon

“As Chris Knight reported this morning, judgment has been handed down in R (Evans) v HM Attorney General [2013] EWHC 1960 (Admin). The Upper Tribunal had ordered disclosure of certain correspondence between Prince Charles and government ministers (termed ‘advocacy correspondence’). The government – the Attorney General specifically – exercised the power of veto under section 53 of FOIA. The requester, Guardian journalist Rob Evans, brought judicial review proceedings. The Administrative Court dismissed his claim.”

Full story

Panopticon, 10th July 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

So we cannot see Prince Charles’ advocacy letters after all – UK Human Rights Blog

“As we all know, the Prince of Wales has his own opinions. And he has shared those opinions with various government departments. Our claimant, a Guardian journalist, thought it would be interesting and important for the rest of us to see those opinions. So he made a request under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations to see these documents.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th July 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Decision to block Prince Charles’s letters upheld – BBC News

“The attorney general’s decision to block public disclosure of letters the Prince of Wales wrote to ministers has been upheld by the High Court.”

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BBC News, 9th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Apex Global Management Ltd v Fi Call Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Posted June 13th, 2013 in appeals, conflict of laws, immunity, law reports, royal family by sally

Apex Global Management Ltd v Fi Call Ltd and others [2013] EWCA Civ 642; [2013] WLR (D) 228

“The phrase ‘members of his family forming part of his household’ in section 20(1)(b) of the State Immunity Act 1978 should not be given a wider meaning in relation to heads of state than it had in relation to diplomats. Thus a head of state’s ‘household’ was restricted to spouses, civil partners, dependent children and relatives.”

WLR Daily, 11th June 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Saudi princes fail to win sovereign immunity in UK court case – The Guardian

Posted May 16th, 2013 in appeals, immunity, news, reporting restrictions, royal family by sally

“Two senior Saudi princes have failed to extract themselves from English justice after the court of appeal upheld a ruling that they are not entitled to sovereign immunity in a case involving their London-based business interests.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Attorney General ‘wrong to overrule judges who ordered Government to publish letters Prince Charles wrote to ministers’ – The Independent

“The Attorney General Dominic Grieve got the law wrong when he overruled judges who ordered the government to publish letters Prince Charles wrote to ministers, a court heard today.”

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The Independent, 8th May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

King Richard III burial row heads to High Court – BBC News

Posted May 2nd, 2013 in burials and cremation, judicial review, news, royal family by sally

“Distant relatives of Richard III have started legal proceedings to challenge the plan to bury the king’s remains in Leicester.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Succession to the Crown Act 2013 – legislation.gov.uk

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Law ending exclusively male royal succession now law – BBC News

“A bill which ends succession to the Crown based on gender has become law.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Apex Global Management Ltd v FI Call Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Posted March 26th, 2013 in conflict of laws, immunity, law reports, royal family by sally

Apex Global Management Ltd v FI Call Ltd and others [2013] EWHC 587 (Ch); [2013] WLR (D) 111

On the proper construction of section 20(1)(b) of the State Immunity Act 1978, whilst an adult member of a sovereign’s or head of state’s family exercising royal or presidential, constitutional and representational functions could be regarded in some circumstances as a member of the sovereign’s or head of state’s household, even though he or she lived apart from the sovereign or head of state, such a situation would be rare, and would be likely to be restricted to the case of a regent, heir to the throne or a person broadly exercising the sovereign’s or head of state’s functions in a full time capacity on his behalf.

WLR Daily, 19th March 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Canterbury court sentences royal car protester Jonathan Elliott – The Independent

Posted March 22nd, 2013 in demonstrations, fines, news, public order, royal family, sentencing by sally

“A protester has been bound over to keep the peace for 12 months after he lunged at a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall before the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Upper Tribunal issues further decision in Prince Charles’ letters saga – Panopticon

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in disclosure, judicial review, news, parliament, public interest, royal family, veto by sally

“In the latest round of the legal and political boxing match that the Evans case has become, the Upper Tribunal (‘UT’), chaired by Walker J, has decided that the government should release its ‘schedules and lists’ of ‘advocacy correspondence’ between Prince Charles and various government departments.”

Full story

Panopticon, 21st February 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Saudi princes warn of damage to UK relations if allegations emerge in trial – The Guardian

Posted February 14th, 2013 in appeals, disclosure, immunity, news, royal family, shareholders by sally

“Relations between the UK and Saudi Arabia will suffer if what are said to be highly damaging allegations about business deals surface during a London trial, lawyers for two Saudi princes have warned the high court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret papers show extent of senior royals’ veto over bills – The Guardian

“The extent of the Queen and Prince Charles’s secretive power of veto over new laws has been exposed after Downing Street lost its battle to keep information about its application secret.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The laws of succession: ‘Blood flows in women’s veins too’ – The Independent

Posted December 17th, 2012 in equality, news, peerages & dignities, royal family, sex discrimination, succession by sally

“Should the aristocracy follow the Royal Family and change the laws of succession?”

Full story

The Independent, 16th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Royal succession bill published – BBC News

Posted December 14th, 2012 in bills, Crown, news, royal family, sex discrimination, succession by tracey

“A new law which will end discrimination against women in the line of succession
to the British throne has been published.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consent given for change to royal succession rules – BBC New

Posted December 4th, 2012 in constitutional reform, news, royal family, sex discrimination, succession by sally

“All Commonwealth realms have agreed to press ahead with a bill ending discrimination against women in the succession to the British throne.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prince Charles and the curious case of the Black Spider Letters – UK Human Rights Blog

“Litigation relating to information rights can sometimes seem very dry and obscure, entailing lengthy analysis of the merits of public authorities disclosing or withholding information which is highly specialised or obtuse, and of little real interest to the general population. But this case – the case of the ‘Black Spider Letters’ – really is a fascinating one, involving an examination not just of the legislative provisions relating to the disclosure of information, but also a consideration of the existence and extent of constitutional conventions pertaining to the role of the monarchy in government. At the same time, it has the potential to generate such controversy as to make for perfect tabloid fodder. It has been the subject of international news coverage. And it’s not over yet.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd October

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Attorney General vetoes release of Prince of Wales correspondence – Attorney General’s Office

“The Attorney General today issued a certificate under the Freedom of Information Act, both as it applies for the purposes of the Act and as it applies to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, vetoing the disclosure of correspondence between HRH the Prince of Wales and ministers in seven government departments.”

Full statement

Attorney General’s Office, 16th October 2012

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk