English members: if the Kennedys staged a Royal Coup...

[Jacobtm]

For a long time now, it seems that there hasn't been much contention over the Crown of England.

Imagine that all changed.

Let's postulate that the Kennedys (the American family of John, Robert and Ted) decided that they were tired of no longer weilding immense influence in America. They decide that the time is ripe to oust the Royal Family of England and take the position for themselves. Being quite rich, they have more than enough money to hire a private militia and buy tons of weapons, jets, tanks, body armor, etc. And the great thing is, NO ONE would see it coming.

So one day, England is just farting around; watching football, drinking tea, not expecting anything out of the ordinary. And then, suddenly, out of nowhere, in comes the invading Kennedy Army.

They make it perfectly clear that they're just going to take over the English Crown; they have no ambitions to actually change your government, and will leave your Parliament alone completely. Infact, as the new Royal Family, they promise that they will sell off significant portions of the Royal Treasure (Jewels and such) to benefit the English Public in general.

So, the question is:

What would you do if the Kennedys staged a Royal Coup?

[Joe Republic]

I don't really think many Brits know who the Kennedys are.

[afleitch]

While I believe that the current Royal Family should not be rightfully on the throne (due to dynastic issues that I won't go into here) I support them over the Kennedys, because as much as I like the Kennedys, the Royal Family tend to not be political.

[Michael Z]

I don't really think many Brits know who the Kennedys are.

Erm, yes they do.

[Blue Rectangle]

I doubt the Kennedys would try such an action a second time.  The Bay of Pigs invasion was a dry-run for an invasion of England, but it failed so badly that the assault on the Royals was scrapped.

[Jacobtm]

I doubt the Kennedys would try such an action a second time.  The Bay of Pigs invasion was a dry-run for an invasion of England, but it failed so badly that the assault on the Royals was scrapped.

They've gotten better training techniques, and in the nearly 45 years since the Bay of Pigs, they've gotten much better at Island Invasion.

The addition of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Family didn't hurt either.

[Peter]

Obviously I would die for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

[opebo]

I wish the Kennedys would stage a coup here!

[Michael Z]

I doubt the Kennedys would try such an action a second time.  The Bay of Pigs invasion was a dry-run for an invasion of England, but it failed so badly that the assault on the Royals was scrapped.

They've gotten better training techniques, and in the nearly 45 years since the Bay of Pigs, they've gotten much better at Island Invasion.

The addition of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Family didn't hurt either.

LOL

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Defend the crown and be amused at the same time

[DanielX]

Wonder if the punishment for this is hanging, decapitation, or being drawn & quartered. Root for the Windsors from the sidelines.

[Democratic Hawk]

While I believe that the current Royal Family should not be rightfully on the throne

Would that reason be the Act of Settlement (1701), which confered the succession on Sophia, Electress of Hanover and her descendents and barred those of James II from his second marriage?

Dave

[minionofmidas]

While I believe that the current Royal Family should not be rightfully on the throne

Would that reason be the Act of Settlement (1701), which confered the succession on Sophia, Electress of Hanover and her descendents and barred those of James II from his second marriage?

Dave

IIRC the descendants of James II' second marriage are extinct since 1804, but there's closer relatives (also Catholic) that were passed over. IIRC a theoretical claim now lies with the descendants of the last King of Bavaria, but they've never made one.

[Democratic Hawk]

While I believe that the current Royal Family should not be rightfully on the throne

Would that reason be the Act of Settlement (1701), which confered the succession on Sophia, Electress of Hanover and her descendents and barred those of James II from his second marriage?

Dave

IIRC the descendants of James II' second marriage are extinct since 1804, but there's closer relatives (also Catholic) that were passed over. IIRC a theoretical claim now lies with the descendants of the last King of Bavaria, but they've never made one.

I think the whole question of the British succession is mired in controversy. The Hanoverians - and thus the current Royal family, were claimants by virtue of being descended from Sophia of Hanover - a granddaughter of James I, who himself was the heir (as his mother was before him) to Elizabeth I, whose right is too dispuited , by virtue of being a great-great grandson of Henry VII

The Tudor claim to the English throne was tenacious at best. Henry VII being descendent from the from 'bastard branch of the House of Lancaster -the Beaufort's though they were later legitimised. His marriage to Elizabeth of York, of course, united the rival houses of the House of Plantagenet thus ending the Wars of the Roses. Even then Elizabeth's claim was tenacious given that she herself was illegitimate (if it is believed that her father, Edward IV's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was biagmous). Furthermore, it is now believed by some that Edward IV was illegimtimate himself - the product of an extra-marital affair on the part of his mother, Cicely Neville

This, of course, means that the children of George, Duke of Clarence, were the true heirs. In effect, this would mean that the rightful monarch must be closest living descendent of his daughter, Margaret Countess of Salisbury - who retained her Catholicism during Henry VIII's Reformation. Perhaps, the Bavarian connection descends from her

Dave

[Peter]

Lets face it, William the Conqueror didn't have a proper claim to the throne.

FTR, I think there are descendants of Bonnie Prince Charlie remaining, but they long ago ceased claiming the throne.

[minionofmidas]

From the Wiki...

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this is what I was thinking of.

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This is what I now think Afleitch is referring to.