Letters to the Editor
THE KING'S TITLE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] venture to submit that the title, " George -the Fifth, by ti c Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India," contains at least two implications to which exception might reasonably be taken by those con- cerned. The first is that the geographically delimited territory known as " Ireland" is a political unity ; the second, that the Protestant Faith is alone " defended " or protected by the crown. Neither of these implications is true, and they should not therefore, I suggest, be incorporated permanently in His Majesty's official style and title.
I am well aware that, constitutionally, the position of
Northern Ireland is not identical with that of Scotland or of wales, but I think it would be little more than mere pedantry to attempt to emphasize in such a title the manner or degree in which this position is unique within the "United Kingdom." Could we not therefore substitute " . . . of the United King- dom (viz., England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), "of the Irish Free State and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King . . " ?
Turning to the second point it is quite true that the title of Defender of the Faith was originally intended to refer to the Reformed or Protestant Faith alone ; but that was when there were, in effect, only two rival Faiths in the field, and when animosity ran higher than it does to-day. At the present time His Majesty's subjects include many thousands— indeed millions—of Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, Mohammedans, Buddhists, Brahmins. To all of these impar- tially is freedom granted and protection extended by the Crown. Should not then the title in this respect be altered by dropping the definite article ? " Defender of Faith " would imply what is the fact, namely, that any Faith sincerely held is permitted full liberty and granted full protection by the Crown. • The full style and title thus amended would read George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, of the Irish Free State, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of Faith, Emperor of am, Sir, &c.,
W. WHATELY SMITH.
Air Defence Experimental Establishment, Biggin Hill Aerodrome, nr. Westerham, Kent. -
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