By God and By the People: Difference between revisions
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Prior to the adoption of the phrase as the country's official motto, the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, following its inception in 1707, did not have an official motto of its own, with its most well-known substitute being {{wp|Dieu et mon droit|''Dieu et mon droit''}}, the personal motto of the {{wp|British}} monarch. Eventually, an idea for an official motto quickly gained pace in the years following the end of the {{wp|First World War}} during which [[Frederick, King of the British|King Frederick]], hoping to address the post-war tensions in the country as well as establish a strong and recognisable {{wp|British}} identity that could potentially reduce the public antagonism towards the {{wp|British royal family}} due to their {{wp|German}} roots, first suggested the phrase to {{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister}} {{wp|Ramsay MacDonald}}, whom personally saw the suggestion as a viable solution to the post-war tensions. In practice, the phrase affirms the {{wp|British}} monarch's role as a ceremonial figurehead subservient to the people's will while also recognising the concept of the {{wp|divine right of kings}} which stresses that the monarch is chosen by God to inherit their country's crown. | Prior to the adoption of the phrase as the country's official motto, the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, following its inception in 1707, did not have an official motto of its own, with its most well-known substitute being {{wp|Dieu et mon droit|''Dieu et mon droit''}}, the personal motto of the {{wp|British}} monarch. Eventually, an idea for an official motto quickly gained pace in the years following the end of the {{wp|First World War}} during which [[Frederick, King of the British|King Frederick]], hoping to address the post-war tensions in the country as well as establish a strong and recognisable {{wp|British}} identity that could potentially reduce the public antagonism towards the {{wp|British royal family}} due to their {{wp|German}} roots, first suggested the phrase to {{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister}} {{wp|Ramsay MacDonald}}, whom personally saw the suggestion as a viable solution to the post-war tensions. In practice, the phrase affirms the {{wp|British}} monarch's role as a ceremonial figurehead subservient to the people's will while also recognising the concept of the {{wp|divine right of kings}} which stresses that the monarch is chosen by God to inherit their country's crown. | ||
In the end, owing to its positive reception as well as widespread approval among both the {{wp|British}} public and | In the end, owing to its positive reception as well as widespread approval among both the {{wp|British}} public and government, the phrase was eventually formally adopted as the official motto through the passing of the {{wp|National Motto Act 1924}} which officially designated a {{wp|national motto}} for the {{wp|United Kingdom}}. | ||
Revision as of 08:24, 9 May 2024
"By God and By the People" is the official motto of the United Kingdom. Adopted in 1924, the phrase was personally coined by King Frederick, thereby giving the United Kingdom its first-ever national motto which has since remained in use today.
Prior to the adoption of the phrase as the country's official motto, the United Kingdom, following its inception in 1707, did not have an official motto of its own, with its most well-known substitute being Dieu et mon droit, the personal motto of the British monarch. Eventually, an idea for an official motto quickly gained pace in the years following the end of the First World War during which King Frederick, hoping to address the post-war tensions in the country as well as establish a strong and recognisable British identity that could potentially reduce the public antagonism towards the British royal family due to their German roots, first suggested the phrase to Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, whom personally saw the suggestion as a viable solution to the post-war tensions. In practice, the phrase affirms the British monarch's role as a ceremonial figurehead subservient to the people's will while also recognising the concept of the divine right of kings which stresses that the monarch is chosen by God to inherit their country's crown.
In the end, owing to its positive reception as well as widespread approval among both the British public and government, the phrase was eventually formally adopted as the official motto through the passing of the National Motto Act 1924 which officially designated a national motto for the United Kingdom.