# What If Prince Charles Killed Someone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-prince-charles-killed-someone/572429>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 24, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-prince-charles-killed-someone/572429 "2011-02-24T06:49:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-prince-charles-killed-someone/572429/61 "2011-02-26T02:33:44Z")

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> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#):
>
> The country would become a republic without war and without change in government.

Well, technically it would be a change in government, as the current one is Liz II ruling by the advice of her Prime Minister. Changing to a republic might be bloodless, but it would be a change of government even if that government remained a Westminster-type parliament with a differently-chosen ceremonial head of state.

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**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-prince-charles-killed-someone/572429/62 "2011-02-26T16:12:37Z")

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Yes, you’re right. What I meant is that the prime minister and ministers would probably remain the same. There would be continuity even though the head of state would change.

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**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-prince-charles-killed-someone/572429/63 "2011-02-26T17:48:25Z")

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> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#):
>
> But the Magna Carta was signed in the 13th Century…your monarchs had plenty of power to levy taxes, wage wars, acquire wealth, etc well after that. Maybe its just a false impression but this Yank always thought that the true erosion of monarchical powers was a more recent development. Like 19th century recent.

The Petition of Right (1628) established that Parliament not the King could raise taxes. The same document also prevented arbitrary arrest, interference in property rights, billeting of troops in houses and imposition of martial law.

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