Order in Council

An Order-in-Council is a decree issued by the King's Council and a type of legislation. The legislation is passed by the King's Council in the name of the monarch.

Assent
At a meeting of the King's Council, Councillors formally petition the sovereign to pass an Order-in-Council which will affect the law. Whilst formally the monarch must give assent, the assent differs from that required to pass acts of parliament and is given in name only. Councillors read only the title of each order to the monarch who gives an indication of assent by saying "Approved".

Royal Orders
Royal Orders-in-Council are a variation of these decrees but differ in that they are presented to the King's Council with the monarch's intent rather than the monarch's request. These are only used in conjunction with decisions affecting the Royal Family. All royal marriages, accessions and formal announcements of death are given by Royal Orders-in-Council. Royal Orders in Council are also used to create peerages or to announce the appointment of individuals to royal orders of chivalry.

Example of Royal Order
The following was promulgated from Boon Palace on the 28 September 1987 and concerned the appointment of actress Alma Reer to the Order of Merit;

"His Majesty, Frederick the Second, King of the Osterlands, does herein make provision that our well beloved subject Alma Elisabeth Margriet Reer is appointed to our Royal Order of Merit this twenty eighth day of September in the twenty third year of our reign, our intent being given to our council of trusted and well loved advisors at our court sitting at the Palace of Boon and in effect by virtue of our assent

Frederick R."