Could the British Empire be reborn?

This is something I am researching and analyzing.

Most people don't seem to be really aware of two very interesting areas.

One is the power, Royal Perogative, of the British Monarch and Two, the projection of that power through the Governor Generals that oversee the Commonwealth Realms of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Belize, and Grenada.

In the UK, right now, a benevolent monarch sits upon the throne and exercises the royal perogative in a very hands off approach. The thing that interests me, is that it doesn't have to be that way.

The Monarch could independently exercise Royal Perogative without the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet should they choose to.

And here is the real kicker:

Her Majesty, as Head of State of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, has the right to use the Royal Prerogative over any nation where she is Head of State.

www.answers.com...

Here is a small sample of the powers of the Crown:
Appointing and Dismissing Ministers
Dissolving Parliament
Declaration of War
Declaration of Emergency

I found myself pondering a scenario, what if a not so benevolent but charismatic Monarch held power and exercised their power to its fullest extent. Someone whose personality was so powerful that when they exercised their full authority within the Realms they faced no crisis from their subjects.

It was then I realized the British Empire could be reborn literally overnight. More or less the Empire is in effect dormant right now but could easily be revived with a charismatic and authoritarian personality.

The United Realms cover more 18 million kilometers, larger than even Russia. With its resources and population it could become a hyperpower equal to or greater than the United States.

Now for the Conspiracy side:

Before World War I, associated groups called the Round Table Movement began pushing for what was called an Imperial Federation. Some people connected the Round Table movement with what some might describe as a secret society called the Society of the Elect, supposedly headed by Cecil Rhodes and Lord Rothschild.

Two things brought the idea of an Imperial Federation or Union to an end, World War I and lack of technology.

The lack of telecommunications technology simply made the idea of a global wide empire impractical, but in modern times we now have near instant communications across the globe, massive logistics networks, and easily accessible electronic archives.

The only things really missing to achieve a globe spanning empire is the will and motive for it.

In the next few decades as the world is shaken by crises and conflicts that will probably tear the EU and even the US apart, a dormant power could be waiting only to be awakened in a time of desperation and great need. Only time will tell if this Empire awakens again to impose needed order in a lawless world.

All Hail Brittanica?

Mike, im giving you a star and a flag for a really good post-not many people realise that the monarchy does indeed still have some power here. The armed forces in particular are Her Majesty's

Also because im hoping it comes off and i can get a nice job in power somewhere. Supreme dictator Expat has a nice ring to it
I will sort things out once and for all dont you worry

Very interesting post, and some very interesting ideas about the relevancy of the monarchy.

There's still strong separation of the monarch and government powers in Commonwealth nations - and in Australia for instance, there's the constant debate of whether or not we should become a republic.

The Australia Act of 1986 already cut ties with the UK parliament's ability to pass legislation over our individual states.

But to be an empire, it would still need to have unlimited military strength - this is where the United States is really the only empire-capable nation I feel, but like you said, it could all fall apart.

Even if the US were to fall apart, that military power would probably remain, and it would still be available to whatever body replaced the US.

I think though the the British Empire is a spent force, someone else could come along and fill the power vacuum, China for instance, but it's still an interesting idea to ponder.

The US will still remain a hyperpower for sometime yet, in whatever form it takes.

reply to post by MikeboydUS


The short answer to your question is no for the following reasons . Prince(SP?) Charles has about as much charism(SP?) as a dead horse . Unless Charles has a short life by the time William ascends to the Throne Australia could well have become a Republic . My opinion as a Kiwi is that retaining the monarchy is a constitutional convenience while we finally settle on our electoral system . Key has said to the effect that NZ will one day become a Republic it just wont happen under his leadership . Other then monarchists and selling gossip magazines there is no great love left for the monarchy .


The Anzac legacy is tied to British Heritage but that will remain in the history books . There is nothing to indicate that the improved ties between the US and NZ wont go backwards with the change in governments in both countries . I cant speak for the other countries that will have to be up to other members .

monarchy really doesnt have much power...well they do but it would never be used or bad things would happen.As for empire,no and good riddance...a really dark time in british history,plus we dont have much military projection,military spending has been cut to be spent on more civilized things,any country would have a hard time invading britain though, our defense is probably one of the best in the world.anyway going off topic,good to think about but our days of an empire are over unless you think it never did truly diminish and we rule via proxy.

queen Elizabeth and the Mountbattens only still rule in any significant way because they've been allowed to.

a lot of citizens of the commonwealth want to be done with her and her family. if they pushed the issue they'd get their way. but they don't.

and Elizabeth knows not to make waves.

she's not going to hand her crown to charles because she knows he will end the monarchy as we know it. she'll HAVE to give it to william ... he'll end it too.

long live the queen!

Something I'd like to add is to consider the future.

What I mean by this is while the rest of the world faces massive instability from the chaos of the next few decades, I think the Commonwealth Realms will remain fairly stable. They don't have near the problems that one might face in the US, Russia, China, India, or the Continental EU.

This stability is one of the main factors that got me thinking what would the world look like after a few decades of disorder and unrest. Who would come out in good shape? China and India both faced with massive populations and internal instability would likely not fare well, especially if Pakistan somehow managed to get all three to nuke each other.

Russia and the US, both could be drawn into a Central Asian conflict involving China and India. They could also be drawn into a conflict over Ukraine, which I feel is the most likely. The US could easily find itself bankrupt like the USSR and potentially fragmenting into multiple countries like Yugoslavia. I think the Russians would fare better than China, India, or the US, but they dont have alot of sea access and will likely find themselves fighting off Islamic insurgencies and insurrections.

The EU could potentially fragment real quick during desperate times where conflict arises between the immigrants, natives, socialists, and neo fascists. I think it could literally tear the EU apart leading to two possible futures. One where a neo fascist European Federation rises from the ashes of the EU or fragmentation and collapse. Throw Russia and the US into the mix and we might see Europe once again as the stage for a World War.

I think out of all of the potential messes of the future from a 2nd Great Depression, Bird Flu Pandemic, World War, etc. The Commonwealth Realms will have the most survivability and stability.

Even if somehow the Monarchy imploded, I still think a Global Economic and Political Union could bring together the Anglosphere in something that would be comparable to the Imperial Federation.

One last thing to add is that Cecil Rhodes thought only with the integration of the US into the British Empire could the Empire truly rule the world. In my view that would make the integration of the former American Republics, after the collpase of the US, into the Commonwealth essential to the foundation of any future Imperial Federation.

isnt what has just happened in canada due to the queen maybe using her powers?

She couldn't do a worse job of running the word than the clowns and muppets that are doing so now!

Seriously, the UK has neither the resources or the will to manage an Empire at present and these are just anachronisms left over from our past.
All countries have old and ridiculous laws which have never been repealed but are never enforced.

Oh, and despite being very un PC to say so, I recognise that the British Empire has no place in the current age, it was a product of it's time and shoud be judged by the morals and standards of it's age and was responsibe for the development and advancement of so many things that have been beneficial to man.

The true power britain could truly have over a former commonwealth nation are the poorer nations. Many times ive heard people say in countries such as sri lanka and african nations that there times under british rule were the best because the british made bridges and schools and so on. And look at these countries now... zimbabwe was one of the richest countries in africa till the british left. I can't imagine the rise of a new empire but I could imagine somewhere like sri lanka becoming a protectorate like brunei is or how oman was. Many of these countries are anglophile ( an exceptional example of an anglophile country is nepal )