# Hey, dudes! Let's get the British Empire back together! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616 "2012-01-25T17:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/1 "2012-01-25T17:44:49Z")
Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639523) thread. Let’s go the other way! Brits, forget that Revolution, you win! Let America come home to Mother Britannia! Of course, we’ll have to have a slightly different arrangement this time, no taxation without representation, and all that. So: We’ll do it American-style, a crowned federal republic. A new state, the British Empire (something that never actually existed before in this constitutional form) will be proclaimed, and Her Majesty will Empress of the British Empire, Queen of the UK, Queen of America, etc. The Imperial Parliament also rules and represents all the predominantly Anglo-culture “settler states” of the Commonwealth – Kingdom of Canada (unless merged with America), KoAustralia, KoNZ, some islands. Not the African colonies, etc., they never wanted to be colonized, they can just remain Commonwealth members. We’ll be the Kingdom of America, full constitutional equality with the UK, and you can send Prince Charles or somebody to be our viceroy and he will be treated as King of America in all respects but name, exercise similar powers and similar ceremonial functions as the Queen-Empress in the UK, so he’ll get some practice for being King-Emperor. The allocation of powers and functions between the Imperial and Royal goverments remains to be worked out, but certainly the Imperial should have final authority in all matters of military policy, foreign policy, and trade. And, as at the Royal level, Her Majesty’s role is ceremonial and sovereignty actually rests with the Imperial Parliament. Which Americans will control by dint of sheer numbers . . . God Save the Queen-Empress! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/2 "2012-01-25T18:09:31Z")
Oh, and, to unite the Am- British Empire and hold it together, all Kingdoms’ armed forces will be merged into a new Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, Imperial Air Force, all integrated together so that there will be an assortment of men from every Kingdom in every platoon, on every ship, etc. And Americans, officers and men, will always be the majority there, too . . . ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/3 "2012-01-25T19:05:11Z")
Will your Neo British Empire also be a transfer union? Last time you declared King George as the Beast. How are you guys with becoming subjects of the Antichrist? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/4 "2012-01-25T19:07:59Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Oh, and, to unite the Am- British Empire and hold it together, all Kingdoms’ armed forces will be merged into a new Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, Imperial Air Force, all integrated together so that there will be an assortment of men from every Kingdom in every platoon, on every ship, etc. > > And Americans, officers and men, will always be the majority there, too . . . And ditch the cheesy Sousa, let’s hire John Williams for our marches! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/5 "2012-01-25T19:16:56Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Will your Neo British Empire also be a transfer union? 😕 Please define. > [@Rune](#): > > Last time you declared King George as the Beast. How are you guys with becoming subjects of the Antichrist? We’re cool with it, didn’t we prove that in 2008? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/6 "2012-01-25T19:20:22Z")
N.B.: The Imperial Parliament is not the Westminster Parliament (which continues as the Parliament of the UK), it is a new and separate and superior-in-sovereignty institution. If it includes a House of Lords, then Her Majesty will be needing a new Imperial Peerage (separate from the Peerage of England, Peerage of the UK, etc.; all new titles, and including American Imperial Peers, Australian Imperial Peers, etc.) to fill it. Since I came up with the idea, I dibs Duke of Earl, nyah. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/7 "2012-01-25T19:23:57Z")
I will not drink room temperature beer! I want it watery, flavorless and frosty cold. Everything else is negotiable. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/8 "2012-01-25T19:25:14Z")
Oh, and from now on the Queen-Empress, consistent with her newly elevated imperial dignity, will wear a crown with eight half-arches instead of four, like [this one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Crown_of_India) but not so “Oriental” in design; and a stylized representation of the new Imperial Crown goes on all the Imperial (as distinct from Royal) heraldry and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/9 "2012-01-25T19:32:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Oh, and from now on the Queen-Empress, consistent with her newly elevated imperial dignity, will wear a crown with eight half-arches instead of four, like [this one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Crown_of_India) but not so “Oriental” in design; and a stylized representation of the new Imperial Crown goes on all the Imperial (as distinct from Royal) heraldry and stuff. Of course, in the design of the Imperial Arms we’ll be replacing the lion with an eagle. An American bal- that is, a traditional Imperial Eagle. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/10 "2012-01-25T19:46:08Z")
_Nous les Québécois_ refuse to bow to your Queen-Empress. Restore Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou, to his rightful throne! And let’s take back the Louisiana purchase while we’re at it! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/11 "2012-01-25T20:06:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Please define. Transferring money from the richer parts to the poorer. As in e.g., from the filthy rich yanks to the poor impoverished Europeans? ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/12 "2012-01-25T20:18:09Z")
Her Majesty’s first Royal Decree will be to authorize an emergency shipment of 'u’s Stateside 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/13 "2012-01-25T20:19:19Z")
What about India? We do _not_ want the East India company back, thankyouverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/14 "2012-01-25T20:38:06Z")
It is back, it’s just in a different form, called the Commonwealth. Even non-British states want in. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/15 "2012-01-25T20:47:03Z")
You can keep Antrim and most of Down but my 30 and a 1/2 county Republic will be real. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/16 "2012-01-25T20:48:09Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Oh, and from now on the Queen-Empress, consistent with her newly elevated imperial dignity, will wear a crown with eight half-arches instead of four Not a chance. The official symbol: golden arches. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/17 "2012-01-26T00:48:06Z")
Torn between MPSIMS and IMHO, the coin said give 'em a break and send it to the latter forum. If you come up with an actual debate, later, it can be posted in GD. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/18 "2012-01-26T01:06:33Z")
I think outside the Anglosphere there’s a feeling that we already have pretty much since WWII (or perhaps Suez at the latest). Only the USA is now very much the senior partner in the empire. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/19 "2012-01-26T01:33:33Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Transferring money from the richer parts to the poorer. As in e.g., from the filthy rich yanks to the poor impoverished Europeans? Ah. Well, maybe, maybe not, that’s all for the Imperial Parliament to decide, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616/20 "2012-01-26T01:35:17Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I think outside the Anglosphere there’s a feeling that we already have pretty much since WWII (or perhaps Suez at the latest). Only the USA is now very much the senior partner in the empire. I know, so, let’s make it official! 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-dudes-lets-get-the-british-empire-back-together/610616.md?page=2)