...by their first name from people who didn't know them?
I wonder what it's like to call King Charles III just "Charles". I'd like to think I wouldn't cause much backlash since the UK is a free, democratic country but I also wouldn't be surprised if his handlers (or even himself) reprimand me for that....
Yah, call him "Charles" and give him some kisses.
We'll see if you survive. 🍿
Btw. if you talk to him don't call him "King Charles" either. ☺
I will survive. I thought there was free speech in the UK?
shareYes, there's free speech in the UK.
Free speech doesn't include insults or hate speech.
Though many still think that's part of it. ☻
Simply calling the king "Charles" isn't a crime.
But if you address him incorrectly, it just shows that you've no education.
"Free speech doesn't include insults or hate speech."
Then the concept of Free Speech is pointless.
I've never seen you insult anyone...did I miss something? ☺
Free speech means a lot in some countries.
Try to imagine being arrested for calling the Russian invasion of the Ukraine a war and not a “special operation” as Tsar Putin ordered. 🪖
There are laws in the UK covering hate speech and incitement to violence and the usual stuff like that. I'm unaware of any that make it illegal to insult anybody (unless that insult was covered by one of the other laws, I suppose). If you want to call King Charles a twat to his face, I don't think they can touch you for it.
Edit: Or maybe they could, under a public order offence or something. But it probably wouldn't stick.
Insults usually have no criminal consequences.
Except for insulting e.g. police officers.
But under civil law, insults can be expensive.
Oh, you can insult police officers in the UK. People do it daily.
shareNo plaintiff, no judge. (old saying)
“Asshole” for a police officer costs around EUR 500-800 here (criminal court).
I think if you went too far in insulting a police officer, you'd eventually get arrested for a public order offence -- although you probably wouldn't end up getting charged.
But just calling a police officer an 'arsehole' or something like that wouldn't be enough. They'd just take it on the chin. They're trained in de-escalation. They'd just say something like 'I'm sorry you feel that way, sir, but if you can just listen to me for a moment...'
Well, before you were permitted an audience with King Charles III -- or Chuckie-Boy as I call him -- you would meet with lackeys and they would drill you with the protocol -- how to properly address him, when it was appropriate to bite him playfully on the nose, &c.
So if you decided to greet him with 'Alright, Charley!?' it probably would cause a diplomatic incident. I remember one of the Australian prime ministers getting a lot of pearl-clutching press coverage (Daily Mail, mostly) because he touched the queen's arm in a friendly manner. Which is not protocol. The Queen, however, clearly didn't give a crap.
So, anyway, yes -- I think you would get a bit of backlash if you did this in public. But really the worst that would happen to you in practical terms is that you wouldn't be permitted to meet Chuckie-Boy again. They don't throw people in the Tower of London any more.
Ah, I see. That was informative! Thanks for the info!
shareOh yah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcnzd5d4Ej4&t=13s
This will get you beheaded even today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zp8ksouSDk
I can't find a clip, IIRC in The Queen (2006) there is a scene where Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) is being told the protocol for his first meeting with the Queen as Prime Minister.
Not sure but it’s interesting when you think that the majority of the UK royal family are often referred to by their first name only in the press and public discourse. If you see a story about William, Kate, Harry etc. you know exactly who they are referring to without the title.
In any case I don’t think it’s a beheading offence these days, and I suspect the King has bigger fish to fry right now.
I agree, but the people you mentioned are the royalty who aren't the sovereign (like princes and princesses, not the king or queen regnant).
shareOh yeah, absolutely. Still, I’m sure I’ve seen stories since the coronation where the king is still referred to as simply Charles too, but from memory his mother was always referred to as ‘The Queen’ or ‘Queen Elizabeth’. Maybe that’s just a respect thing..
shareThe Dutch king has been called Willempie (a rather crass form of "little William") ever since he was prince. I never watch the nonsense around King's Day, but I'm pretty sure that quite some people in the crowd call out to him with that name whenever he passes. Despite his reputation as a party prince and jolly guy, he actually seems to take himself rather seriously. So I think he would be annoyed, but still do a little wave and head nod.
shareHere's one from the Australian music show Countdown in the 70's it features the host Ian "Molly" Meldrum interviewing then Prince Charles. Molly is way out of his depth and can't keep his shit together, the Prince is bemused to say the least.
I can't find the full clip but if I could you would see Molly asking Charles how his mum is going and Charles responds, "My mother, you mean the Queen of England?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-72muL9zrI