The Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England

The Crowns were united by King James accession to the English Crown in 1603 -
The Union of The Crowns. James adopted the title King of Great Britain, France and
Ireland at that time as he wished to see a truly united kingdom. The
Scottish Parliament passed an Act of Union immediately. However, James
underestimated the powers of the English Parliament, who refused to follow
likewise. The Crown was united, but England and Scotland continued as,
decreasingly, independent countries until the 1707 Act of Union, at which
point they were united to form Great Britain.

The Crown and the countries were both independent and inter-dependent. James
saw himself as a continuation of both crowns in one and in doing so, an
instrument to provide a solution to the divisions within Great Britain.

In coming to the 1953 decisions, the various events relating to the changes
in the State territory (e.g. 1801 United Kingdom of GB and Ireland, 1922
Independence of Republic of Ireland, Various Dominion and Empire-related
changes, etc) appear to have rightly been ignored - including the 1707 Act
of Union. The continuity of the Crown is separate from these continual
territorial changes - although they may generate consequent titular changes.

This continuity over territorial changes stretches back long before James'
time, and so has to be considered. In 1603, James wanted to make a pro-union
political statement, so he styled himself 'of Great Britain' rather than 'of
England and Scotland'.

Based on the argument that the Crown line is clearly continuous back through
the earlier Queen Elizabeth of England, the title Queen Elizabeth II is
appropriate, hence the 1953 decisions. The presence in 1953 of a third Queen
Elizabeth in the equation (albeit by marriage, but known and loved by the
people in that name) may also have had an effect.

The result of the 1953 decisions is that we can clearly distinguish Queen
Elizabeth II from her forbears, while we have to qualify a James as 'of
Scotland' or 'of Great Britain'. Lord Cooper's decision not to meddle with
this now also seems eminently sensible.

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 King James view on the subject, if only we could live up to his expectations:

Extracted from King James Accession Speech to Parliament, 19 March 1603.

...by peace abroad with their neighbours the towns flourish, the merchants
become rich, the trade does increase, and the people of all sorts of the
land enjoy free liberty to exercise themselves in their general vocations
without peril or disturbance...

Although outward peace be a great blessing, yet is it far inferior to peace
within, as civil wars are more cruel and unnatural than wars abroad. And
therefore the second great blessing that God has with my person sent unto
you, is peace within, and that in a double form. First, by my descent,
lineally out of the loins of Henry VII, is reunited and confirmed in me the
union of the two princely roses of the two houses of Lancaster and York...

But the union of these two princely houses is nothing comparable to the
union of two ancient and famous kingdoms, which is the other inward peace
annexed to my person...

Has not God first united these two kingdoms, both in language, religion, and
similitude of manners?

Yes, has he not made us all in one island, compassed with one sea, and of
itself by nature so indivisible, as almost those that were borderers
themselves on the late borders, cannot distinguish nor know or discern their
own limits? These two Countries being separated neither by sea, nor great
river, mountain, nor other strength of nature...

And now in the end and fullness of time united, the right and title of both
in my person, alike lineally descended of both the Crowns, whereby it is now
become like a little world within itself, being entrenched and fortified
round about with a natural, and yet admirable strong pond or ditch, whereby
all the former fears of this nation are now quite cut off, the other part of
the island being ever before now, not only the place of landing to all
strangers that were to make invasion here, but likewise moved by the enemies
of this State, by untimely incursions, to make enforced diversion from their
conquests, for defending themselves at home, and keeping sure their back
door, as then it was called, which was the greatest hindrance that ever my
predecessors had in disturbing them from their many famous and glorious
conquests abroad.

What God has conjoined then, let no man separate...