Legal Definitions - le roy le veut

Le roy le veut is a historical phrase originating from Law French, which translates to "the king wills it." In the context of a reigning queen, the equivalent phrase is la reine le veut, meaning "the queen wills it."

This declaration was traditionally used in the British Parliament to signify the monarch's formal approval, known as Royal Assent, of a public bill that had successfully passed through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It represented the final, crucial step in the legislative process, transforming a parliamentary proposal into an official act of law.

• Example 1: The Act of Union 1707

  After extensive negotiations and votes in both the English and Scottish Parliaments, the Acts of Union were presented for Royal Assent. Upon receiving the bill that would unite the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into Great Britain, Queen Anne would have formally assented to it. The declaration of "la reine le veut" would have signified her indispensable approval, thereby enacting the legislation that formed the foundational law of a new unified nation.

• Example 2: The Reform Act 1832

  This landmark legislation aimed to significantly reform the electoral system in the United Kingdom, expanding voting rights and redistributing parliamentary seats. Following its passage through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, despite considerable political opposition, the bill was presented to King William IV. His formal declaration of "le roy le veut" was essential for the bill to become law, marking a pivotal moment in British democratic history by giving legal force to the electoral reforms.

• Example 3: A 17th-Century Public Health Bill

  Consider a hypothetical bill passed by Parliament in the late 17th century, designed to improve public sanitation in London following a major plague outbreak. This bill, addressing a matter of urgent public interest, would have undergone rigorous debate and voting. Once it successfully navigated the parliamentary process, it would be brought before the reigning monarch. The pronouncement "le roy le veut" would confirm the sovereign's consent, authorizing the implementation of the public health measures and transforming the legislative proposal into a binding public act.