Royal interference or no big deal?

The shock-horror Guardian story that the Queen has interfered in parliamentary legislation where it affects her personal interests is difficult to gauge. Royal consent has been a formality for centuries and may just be a historical anachronism which has had little tangible effect. A constitutional expert said: ‘it is misleading to describe it as a veto. If consent were refused, parliament would be free to carry on legislating without it, if it chose to.’ Though it clearly adds fuel t