# The reign of King Charles III of the United Kingdom **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 8, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232 "2022-09-08T18:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/944 "2023-07-19T15:51:16Z")
Abolished in 1819, after a case in 1818 where the defendant successfully invoked trial by battle, and the plaintiff declined the fight. > **[Ashford v Thornton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashford_v_Thornton)** > > Ashford v Thornton (1818) 106 ER 149 is an English criminal case in the Court of King's Bench which upheld the right of the defendant to trial by battle on a private appeal from an acquittal for murder. > In 1817, Abraham Thornton was charged with the murder of Mary Ashford. Thornton had met Ashford at a dance and had walked with her from the event. The next morning, she was found drowned in a pit with little evidence of violence. Public opinion was heavily against Thornton, but the jury quickl... ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/945 "2023-07-19T16:05:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Abolished in 1819, after a case in 1818 where the defendant successfully invoked trial by battle, and the plaintiff declined the fight.   > > [Ashford v Thornton - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashford_v_Thornton) Fascinating! It’s like an OJ Simpson trial. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/946 "2023-07-19T16:11:14Z")
The general Wikipedia article on trial by combat has a medieval illustration, with this caption: > A 1540s depiction of a judicial combat in Augsburg in 1409, between Marshal Wilhelm von Dornsberg and Theodor Haschenacker. _Dornsberg’s sword broke early in the duel, but he **proceeded to kill Haschenacker with his own sword**._ That is badass! > **[Trial by combat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_by_combat)** > > Trial by combat (also wager of battle, trial by battle or judicial duel) was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession in which two parties in dispute fought in single combat; the winner of the fight was proclaimed to be right. In essence, it was a judicially sanctioned duel. It remained in use throughout the European Middle Ages, gradually disappearing in the course of the 16th century. > Unlike trial by ordeal in general, which is known to ma... ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/947 "2023-07-20T22:18:22Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Pommel and pummel share the same root. I did not know that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/948 "2023-07-26T14:58:30Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > A 1540s depiction of a judicial combat in Augsburg in 1409, between Marshal Wilhelm von Dornsberg and Theodor Haschenacker. _Dornsberg’s sword broke early in the duel, but he **proceeded to kill Haschenacker with his own sword**._ > > That is badass! Not really, it just proves that he was in the right, and therefore had God protecting him. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/949 "2023-07-26T20:47:42Z")
Remember: When your boot in on their neck, God is demonstrably on your side. Conventional Christianity is such a _nice_ religion. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/950 "2023-07-27T00:12:28Z")
I saw a comment today on another site where someone said that they’re so used to calling him Prince Charles, that they find themselves calling him King Prince Charles. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/951 "2023-07-27T01:38:29Z")
Now _that_ would be an ugly spaniel. Probably have 6 legs and three eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/952 "2023-08-30T16:54:30Z")
She’s a busy lady! > **[Dolly Parton had to decline tea invite from Kate Middleton, jokes 'she wasn't...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/29/entertainment/dolly-parton-kate-middleton/index.html)** > > Dolly Parton found herself in the rare position of having to politely decline an invitation to have tea with the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton during a recent trip to London. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/953 "2023-09-11T20:37:27Z")
A look back: > **[King Charles: What sort of monarch has he been in his first year?](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66716959)** > > A year after taking the throne, the BBC's Sean Coughlan looks at what King Charles has done differently. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/954 "2023-09-22T14:52:18Z")
Some mountain bikers encounter him going for a walk: > **[Mountain bikers bump into King Charles on Balmoral walk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97gUrw3ib4%2F)** > > The King surprised a group of cyclists who were going for a ride around Balmoral when he stopped to talk to them.The monarch was hiking alone on the Scottish... I for one found it quite charming. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/955 "2023-09-22T15:01:24Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Some mountain bikers encounter him going for a walk: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97gUrw3ib4/](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97gUrw3ib4/) “I didn’t know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/956 "2023-09-22T17:56:00Z")
> 'Ow can you tell ‘es the King? > ‘E’s no’ go’ shit on 'im. As kids my bros and I always maintained there’s a _Dr. Strangelove_ movie quote for any life situation you’ll ever encounter in the USA. It seems that Monty Python fills that same role in the UK. Whatever happens, however outlandish or unexpected, Monty already has you covered. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/957 "2023-09-23T04:57:58Z")
Yes, very charming. But how does this happen? He just goes out for a walk without any security people? I’m amazed. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/958 "2023-09-23T05:09:13Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Yes, very charming. But how does this happen? He just goes out for a walk without any security people? His mum was fond of going driving alone in Balmoral well up until a few years ago. I’ve got a Scottish friend elsewhere on the net who says she nearly ran him over once. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/959 "2023-09-23T06:46:21Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/miZrP881Q5s/maxresdefault.jpg "The day Queen Elizabeth II met two American hikers who did not know who she was") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miZrP881Q5s) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/960 "2023-09-23T06:57:48Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Yes, very charming. But how does this happen? He just goes out for a walk without any security people? I’m amazed. Well, the King holds very little, if any, political power; so there’s no real point to threatening him. He does what Parliament tells him to do, so if the people, through their representatives in Parliament, tell him to do something, he does it. No quibble, no quarrel, no need for debates, he just does it. And thus, little need for security. He does what the people want, and that’s that. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/961 "2023-09-23T07:06:31Z")
I doubt if potential security threats would be concerning themselves with constitutional questions. In this case, he and his security people probably relied on the unlikelihood of anyone else being able to predict exactly where he would be, or to follow him without being seen. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/962 "2023-09-23T07:09:01Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I for one found it quite charming. Hiking _alone_. Think about that. He at least has some bravery. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/963 "2023-09-23T07:09:39Z")
I mean, he’s also got the advantage that you can’t just waltz into a corner shop and pick up an AR-15 on your way to the chemist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=49)