The royal sign-manual is the signature of the sovereign, by the affixing of which the monarch expresses their pleasure either by order, commission, or warrant. A sign-manual warrant may be either an executive act (for example, an appointment to an office), or an authority for affixing the Great Seal of the pertinent realm. The sign-manual is also used to give power to make and ratify treaties.[1]Sign manual, with or without hyphen, is an old term for a handwritten signature in general. It is also referred to as sign manual and signet.
Some letters patent are not signed by the monarch in person. Instead, the monarch signs a warrant authorizing the preparation of the letters patent (traditionally written in ceremonial calligraphy on vellum) and approving the draft text of the letters patent. Then, once the letters patent are prepared, they are sealed with the Great Seal without the need for the signature of the monarch, because royal authority for issuing the letters patent had already been given by means of the warrant. Those letters patent finish with the words "By warrant under the King/Queen's Sign Manual", to signify that they do not bear the sign-manual themselves, having already been approved by warrant signed by the sovereign.
Other letters patent, due to the nature of their contents (such as those that authorise the expenditure of money, or those that signify royal assent to Acts of Parliament), require the royal sign-manual to be affixed directly to them. Such letters patent contain, at the bottom, the words: "By the King/Queen Him/Herself, signed with His/Her own hand". The royal sign-manual is usually placed by the sovereign at the top of the document. These papers usually must be countersigned by a principal secretary of state or other responsible minister.[1]
In some cases, the use of the sign-manual has been dispensed with and a stamp affixed in lieu thereof, as in the case of George IV, whose bodily infirmity made the act of signing difficult and painful during the last weeks of his life. The Royal Signature by Commission Act 1830 (11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4. c. 23) was passed providing that a stamp might be affixed in lieu of the sign-manual, but the sovereign had to express his consent to each separate use of the stamp, the stamped document being attested by a confidential servant and several officers of State.[1][2]
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sign-Manual, Royal". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 81.
^Anson, William Reynell (1907), Law and Custom of the Constitution, vol. II (i ed.), General Books, p. 59, ISBN978-0-217-08715-5
^"Hoe ondertekent de Koning wetten en Koninklijke Besluiten als hij in het buitenland is? - Het Koninklijk Huis". 26 November 2014.
External linksEdit
United Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 24 May 1830
United Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 27 May 1830
United Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 28 May 1830
House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 24 May 1830
House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 25 May 1830
House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act, 27 May 1830
September 27, 2023
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the Commonwealth realms and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate May 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Royal sign manual news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The royal sign manual is the signature of the sovereign by the affixing of which the monarch expresses their pleasure either by order commission or warrant A sign manual warrant may be either an executive act for example an appointment to an office or an authority for affixing the Great Seal of the pertinent realm The sign manual is also used to give power to make and ratify treaties 1 Sign manual with or without hyphen is an old term for a handwritten signature in general It is also referred to as sign manual and signet Contents 1 Commonwealth realms 1 1 Composition 1 2 Uses 2 Kingdom of the Netherlands 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCommonwealth realms Edit nbsp The royal sign manual of Elizabeth II nbsp The royal sign manual of Queen Elizabeth I nbsp The royal sign manual of King George III nbsp The signature of King Edward VIII as King Emperor nbsp The royal sign manual of King Charles IIIComposition Edit The royal sign manual usually consists of the sovereign s regnal name without number if otherwise used followed by the letter R for Rex king or Regina queen Thus the signs manual of both Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II read Elizabeth R When the British monarch was also Emperor or Empress of India the sign manual ended with R I for Rex Imperator or Regina Imperatrix king emperor or queen empress When the future George IV then the Prince of Wales became regent on behalf of his incapacitated father George III the Regency Act 1811 expressly directed that the prince should sign George P R the initials standing for Princeps Regens meaning prince regent Uses Edit Some letters patent are not signed by the monarch in person Instead the monarch signs a warrant authorizing the preparation of the letters patent traditionally written in ceremonial calligraphy on vellum and approving the draft text of the letters patent Then once the letters patent are prepared they are sealed with the Great Seal without the need for the signature of the monarch because royal authority for issuing the letters patent had already been given by means of the warrant Those letters patent finish with the words By warrant under the King Queen s Sign Manual to signify that they do not bear the sign manual themselves having already been approved by warrant signed by the sovereign Other letters patent due to the nature of their contents such as those that authorise the expenditure of money or those that signify royal assent to Acts of Parliament require the royal sign manual to be affixed directly to them Such letters patent contain at the bottom the words By the King Queen Him Herself signed with His Her own hand The royal sign manual is usually placed by the sovereign at the top of the document These papers usually must be countersigned by a principal secretary of state or other responsible minister 1 In some cases the use of the sign manual has been dispensed with and a stamp affixed in lieu thereof as in the case of George IV whose bodily infirmity made the act of signing difficult and painful during the last weeks of his life The Royal Signature by Commission Act 1830 11 Geo 4 amp 1 Will 4 c 23 was passed providing that a stamp might be affixed in lieu of the sign manual but the sovereign had to express his consent to each separate use of the stamp the stamped document being attested by a confidential servant and several officers of State 1 2 Kingdom of the Netherlands Edit nbsp The signature of King Willem Alexander of the NetherlandsAccording to article 47 3 of the constitution of the Netherlands all Acts of Parliament and Royal Decrees have to be signed by the King and by one or more Ministers or State Secretaries called a countersign No one else can sign on behalf of the King When he is abroad he can sign using a tablet computer but will still sign the paper original upon his return 4 See also EditRoyal assent Signum manus Royal cypher Royal charter Royal warrant disambiguation Letters patent Calligraphy Autograph letter Holy See Name change Historical usageReferences Edit a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Sign Manual Royal Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 81 Anson William Reynell 1907 Law and Custom of the Constitution vol II i ed General Books p 59 ISBN 978 0 217 08715 5 Grondwet Hoe ondertekent de Koning wetten en Koninklijke Besluiten als hij in het buitenland is Het Koninklijk Huis 26 November 2014 External links EditUnited Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 24 May 1830 United Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 27 May 1830 United Kingdom House of Commons debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 28 May 1830 House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 24 May 1830 House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 25 May 1830 House of Lords debates on the Royal Signature by Commission Act 27 May 1830 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal sign manual amp oldid 1176434088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
