King Charles was reluctantly granted immunity from prosecution by the Welsh government under the new Agricultural Act. Buckingham Palace contacted officials last year and asked for assurances that the king could not be prosecuted under the law. Although the Welsh Government agreed to this, documents it published reveal that one of its ministers was “not happy”. The palace said it requested the guarantees out of “legal justice.”
It is completely wrong to suggest that this would put pressure on the Welsh Government in any way
They added. The Welsh Government says the monarch's immunity is a “long-standing principle”.
BBC review According to Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts, she has expressed concern about the story, saying it is an “anachronism that has no place in Welsh democracy”. Exemption means that
The monarchy cannot be held responsible for violating regulations on agricultural products, data exchange rules, and forcibly invading its property.
It was confirmed last year that the king would give up the lease on his Welsh home near Llandovery. However, the Duchy of Lancaster, a private possession of the British King, has lands in Wales.
There is a long British tradition that the king cannot be held accountable, with the Welsh government and other governments having to regularly seek the king's approval when laws affect his interests.
Not everyone is satisfied
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) reveal that the Palace has contacted Welsh Government lawyers to ensure that ministers “take into account conventions relating to the Crown’s criminal liability” when setting the rules for how the bill will work.
Buckingham Palace confirmed it had requested the guarantee and the Welsh Government later confirmed the exemption in a letter to the Palace dated 6 June 2023.
“Welsh ministers will take into account the Crown Treaty which excludes criminal enforcement and powers of entry when making the regulations,” the letter said.
According to an email published by Freedom of Information, Cabinet Minister Mick Antonio “was not happy with the exclusion but acknowledges the ongoing agreement and therefore confirms the mandate.” Antonio is a Labor MP for Send Pontypridd, and serves as a senior legal adviser to the Welsh Government.
Following the election of Vaughan Gething as First Minister, he is expected to be confirmed again in the position. The King's Deputy Private Secretary later approved the law, according to a Freedom of Information response. The regulations discussed in the correspondence have not yet been announced.
Karolyi remains exonerated
According to Buckingham Palace, under “pre-existing Welsh law” “secondary Welsh legislation cannot hold the King criminally liable, not least because it would be constitutionally inappropriate to prosecute the King for whom the Crown Prosecution Service and the Government are acting.” “The courts will act.”
Secondary legislation is regulations that set out how a law passed by the Senedd will operate.
The spokesperson added: “In the interests of legal integrity, assurances have been sought that this position will be maintained when secondary legislation relating to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2023 is developed, so that the process required by Welsh parliamentary procedures can be properly implemented.” “I inform you.”
There were no formal or informal objections to the process from the Welsh Government
They added. “King Charles is under a new law,” said Mrs Savile Roberts He cannot be held responsible for rural crimesThe Welsh Government added: “The King’s immunity from prosecution is an old principle and we have nothing to add to the information already provided.”
Comprehensive analyses, world-changing questions, and visions for the future in one volume.