Legal Definitions - Dieu et mon droit

Dieu et mon droit is a French phrase that translates to "God and my right." It serves as the official motto of the royal arms of the United Kingdom.

This motto encapsulates the historical belief that the monarch's authority to rule is derived directly from God, rather than solely from the consent of the people or a parliament. It signifies the sovereign's ultimate and legitimate power, grounded in both spiritual endorsement and hereditary entitlement to the throne.

• Assertion of Royal Prerogative: Imagine a historical scenario where a British monarch, facing strong opposition from Parliament regarding a foreign policy decision, declares that their actions are taken under the royal prerogative, asserting their inherent right to govern such matters for the good of the realm.

  This illustrates Dieu et mon droit by showing the monarch appealing to an authority beyond parliamentary consent – their own inherent, divinely-backed right to make decisions, even against popular or legislative will, based on their perceived direct mandate.

• Symbolism in Legal Institutions: Consider the prominent display of the royal coat of arms, bearing the motto Dieu et mon droit, above the judge's bench in a courtroom or at the entrance of a government building.

  Here, the motto symbolizes that the justice administered in the court, and the authority exercised by the government, ultimately derives its power from the Crown. The Crown, in turn, historically claimed its legitimacy from God and an inherent right, making the motto a constant reminder of the foundational source of legal and governmental power within the kingdom.

• Coronation Oath and Succession: During a modern coronation ceremony, the monarch takes an oath to govern the people according to their laws and customs, but also to uphold the Protestant succession and the Church of England.

  While modern monarchy is constitutional, the coronation oath, with its religious elements and commitment to a specific, hereditary succession, subtly echoes the historical sentiment of Dieu et mon droit. It reinforces the idea that the monarch's role is not purely secular but also carries a spiritual dimension and an inherent right tied to historical and religious foundations, even if the direct interpretation of "divine right" has evolved over time.