Windsor Castle
7th April
Dear Mr MacLeod
The Queen has commanded me to thank you for your letter of 31st March. The expressions of loyalty sent on behalf of your Committee are much appreciated. I must tell you, however, that there is nothing unconstitutional in Her Majesty’s intention to receive the Pope during his forthcoming visit to this country. Indeed, Her Majesty is looking forward to repaying the courtesy shown by this Pope and his predecessors during her visits to the Vatican in 1980, 1961 and 1951.
Yours Sincerely,
Robert Fellowes
(Assistant Private Secretary)
Note:
We cannot accept the assertion by the Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary that there is nothing unconstitutional in Her Majesty’s intention to receive the Pope. The Bill of Rights of 1689 includes in it the following provisions:—
“And whereas it hath been found by experience, that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this Protestant Kingdom, to be governed by a popish prince, or by any King or Queen marrying a papist, the said lords spiritual and temporal, and commons do further pray that it be enacted, that all and every person and persons this is, are or shall be reconciled to, or shall hold communion with, the see or Church of Rome, or shall profess the popish religion, or shall marry a papist, shall be excluded, and be forever incapable to inherit, possess, or enjoy the crown and government of this realm . . . or to have, use, or exercise any regal power, authority, or jurisdiction within the same; and in all and every such case or cases the people of these realms shall be, and are hereby absolved of their allegiance.” This, to our mind, makes it abundantly plain that all trafficking with the Papacy and Pope of Rome by the Queen is forbidden.