header-logo header-logo

19 February 2016 / Michael L Nash
Issue: 7687 / Categories: Features , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

Complications of a queen

Michael L Nash considers the legal pitfalls of Mary Tudor & Queen Elizabeth II

This week marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of our first Queen regnant, Mary Tudor, the elder daughter of Henry VIII. After the paralysing disappointment of the birth and death of a boy and heir in 1511, Mary was born in the Palace of Greenwich on 18 February 1516. She was baptised the following Wednesday in the monastery of Greyfriars with all the solemnity due to her rank.

Rather different was the birth and baptism of the future Elizabeth II in 1926. She was born in a private house at 17 Bruton Street, a few yards from Bond Street on 21 April 1926. She was christened by Dr Cosmo Gordon Lang, then Archbishop of York, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 29 May 1926.

Both the house in which she was born, and the chapel where she was christened, were destroyed in the Blitz. When she became Queen, Elizabeth II rebuilt the chapel, which is now

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Firm strengthens growth strategy and group litigation capability with senior hires

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
back-to-top-scroll