So you would advocate a referendum to bypass say Christian if he turned out to have low learning ability i.e. if he never learnt to read properly.
This though is a problem now more so than with the situation in the 50s - as the referendum was able to justify giving the throne to the children of the monarch but what if the heir apparent - the eldest child - simply isn't capable of learning - how do you solve that situation - without necessarily getting rid of the monarchy - which would be a good thing anyway as this situation wouldn't arise then.
You won't be able to have another smokescreen referendum as was possible on the 50s - so what could be done?
The situation has to be settled - answer - abolish the monarch and have elected leaders who have to have certain qualifications other than who happened to provide the genetic makeup and birth order.
What about the rights of inheritance of any children this bypassed heir would have - surely as the eldest child of the eldest child that child has the right of inheritance - so say Christian is unable to learn but marries young and has a son - what would you do then? We aren't talking about a person who is unaware of the situation but one with a very low IQ who is aware of things but simply can't learn. It would be a lawyers dream fighting for the rights of the heir apparent who hasn't the brainpower to hold a conversation - but by birth has the right to be monarch.
If Christian should be mentally retarded (substitute with current politically correct expression) then he cannot fulfill his role as monarch. It's as simple as that.
He needs to be able to comprehend,what he is doing and what his role is.
In such a case he would simply be bypassed by Isabella.
In theory a lot of things could happen to Christian which would lead him to be bypassed.
He could be comatose after an accident.
He could become severely paralyzed after an accident.
He could commit a serious crime.
He could convert to Hinduism.
- And so on.
All of these examples could and would most likely lead to him to either being bypassed or being "advised" to abdicate alternatively renounce his claim on the throne.
No referendum will be needed.
As for the children of a bypassed heir. That's an interesting question. I guess it would depend on whether the oldest child of the deposed heir is aknowledged as the next in the line, as Christian is. If the bypassed heir does not have any children at the time he is bypassed, tough luck for his future children... They are out.
It would be another matter if Frederik were to die tomorrow. Then Joachim would step in as Regent for Christian until he turns 18, because Christian is aknowledged as the next heir. As such Nikolai would not become king.
I didn't know Mary could be regent. What are the requirements for being regent?
In theory everyone who fulfills the following requirements can be appointed Rigsforstander. (Only the Crown Prince can be Regent, everybody else act as a Rigsforstander. For simplicity that is also translated to Regent, as the function is basically the same).
- A Danish citizen.
- Adhering to the Lutheran faith. (ADDED: I'll check and verify this as I'm not 100 % certain. - Confirmed).
- Of legal age. I.e. 18.
- Having signed a pledge to obey the Danish Constitution.
- Worthy. I.e. of a good moral standing, respected. No criminal record or "unfortunate" behaviour.
- Competent. I.e. able to fullfill the position. And of course of sound mind. You cannot be insane.
The four first requirements are a must! The next two are understood to be included among the terms.
I cannot become a Rigsforstander, because I'm not a member of the State Church, and as such don't adhere to the Lutheran faith.
My wife could. She's still adhering to the Lutheran faith, at least officially. As for the last three requirements. Well,
I may think she fullfills those criterias as well.
That is of course putting things on the edge.
However, there is nothing to hinder Mary, Prince Henrik or our Marie from acting as a Rigsforstander.
Usually QMII appoints someone who is in direct line for the throne but Queen Ingrid has acted as a Rigsforstander and when his time comes, Frederik may be more liberal in that respect, who knows?
Should QMII die within the next couple of years, there will suddenly be an acute shortage of adults in the line for the throne. At least until Nikolai and Felix turn 18.
ADDED:
Here are the paragraphs regarding a Rigsforstander. The wording is archaic and I'll write a summary tomorrow, TV is calling...
§ 9. Saafremt Kongen, enten formedelst Bortreise eller Svaghed, finder, at der bør udnævnes en Rigsforstander, sammenkalder han Rigsdagen og forelægger den et Lovforslag herom.
§ 10. Bliver Kongen ude af Stand til at regjere, sammenkalder Statsraadet Rigsdagen. Naar da den forenede Rigsdag med tre Fjerdedele af de afgivne Stemmer erkjender Nødvendigheden, udnævner den en Rigsforstander og anordner, om fornødent gjøres, et Formynderskab.
§ 11. Er der Anledning til at frygte for, at Thronfølgeren ved Kongens Død vil være umyndig eller af anden Grund ude af Stand til selv at regjere, bestemmes ved Lov en Rigsforstander, og et Formynderskab anordnes af Kongen. Rigsforstanderen kan ikke deeltage i Formynderskabet.
§ 12. Rigsforstanderen aflægger den for Kongen foreskrevne Eed og udøver, saalænge Rigsforstanderskabet varer, i Kongens Navn alle dennes Rettigheder; dog kan han ikke foreslaae Forandring af Arvefølgen.
§ 13. Naar Kongen er død, sammentræder 14de Dagen derefter uden Sammenkaldelse den sidstvalgte Rigsdag.
§ 14. Er der ingen Thronfølger, eller kan Thronfølgeren eller Rigsforstanderen ikke strax tiltræde Regjeringen, føres den af Statsraadet, indtil fornøden Bestemmelse er tagen af Rigsdagen.
§ 15. Er Thronfølgeren eller Rigsforstanderen fraværende, bestemmer den forenede Rigsdag, inden hvilken Tid han har at vende tilbage. Er Thronfølgeren umyndig, eller af anden Grund ikke i Stand til at regjere, uden at Rigsforstander og Formynderskab er bestemt, udnævner den forenede Rigsdag Rigsforstanderen og beskikker Formynderskabet. Er der ingen Thronfølger, vælger den forenede Rigsdag en Konge og fastsætter den fremtidige Arvefølge.