Nevertheless , neither the British Queen nor the monarchs of Denmark or the Nerherlands own their position to the “ grace of God” , but rather to the laws of succession in their respective countries.
Could the “grace of God” mentioned in their official citation be linked then to their accident of birth , I.e. being the firstborn of a particular family at a particular time ? If so, that obviously implies a religious belief about divine intervention in one’s life circumstances , which non-believers otherwise see as merely accidental and random . In countries where the monarch is still the head of the established church, the use of “ by the grace of God” may be acceptable, but I don’t find it appropriate in a secular state like the Netherlands.
Could the “grace of God” mentioned in their official citation be linked then to their accident of birth , I.e. being the firstborn of a particular family at a particular time ? If so, that obviously implies a religious belief about divine intervention in one’s life circumstances , which non-believers otherwise see as merely accidental and random . In countries where the monarch is still the head of the established church, the use of “ by the grace of God” may be acceptable, but I don’t find it appropriate in a secular state like the Netherlands.
