On March 11, 1708, Queen Anne exercised her royal prerogative in what would become the final instance of a British monarch vetoing legislation. She withheld Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, marking a historic moment in the evolving balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. This decision was not a mere assertion of authority but rather a calculated response to the political instability of the time—particularly fears of a Jacobite uprising and the broader implications of the recent 1707 Act of Union between England and Scotland.
At the center of the controversy was the question of military control in post-Union Scotland. The Scottish Militia Bill proposed the establishment of a local militia, ostensibly to strengthen national defense. However, officials in London feared that such a force, if under local command, could provide a strategic advantage to Jacobites—supporters of the deposed James II and his son, James Francis Edward Stuart (the “Old Pretender”). The timing of the bill exacerbated these concerns, as intelligence reports suggested an imminent Jacobite invasion backed by France. Indeed, in March 1708, a French fleet attempted to land James in Scotland to reclaim the throne, though the Royal Navy ultimately thwarted the effort. Against this backdrop, the prospect of an armed Scottish militia raised alarms within the government.
Following ministerial advice, Queen Anne chose to veto the bill—a rare act, even in previous centuries. Her decision set a precedent: never again would a British monarch personally reject legislation passed by Parliament. This action was framed not as a denial of Scottish rights but as a necessary safeguard against potential rebellion at a particularly vulnerable moment in Britain’s political landscape.
In retrospect, Queen Anne’s veto symbolized the continuing shift toward a constitutional monarchy. The 1688 Glorious Revolution had already curtailed royal authority and cemented parliamentary supremacy. Throughout the 18th century, the monarchy’s role increasingly became symbolic rather than political. Although the power to withhold Royal Assent has never been formally abolished, it has since become an unused relic of history. British constitutional convention now dictates that the monarch must approve all legislation passed by Parliament, reinforcing the primacy of democratic governance.
Queen Anne did not live long after her controversial decision, passing away in 1714. With her death, the Hanoverian dynasty ascended, and the Jacobite movement faced repeated defeats. The question of a Scottish militia would resurface during later Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1745, but by then, Britain had firmly transitioned into a system where royal interference in legislation was obsolete.
The events of March 11, 1708, remain a pivotal moment in British constitutional history. While Anne’s veto was driven by immediate security concerns, it inadvertently reinforced the modern principle that the monarch reigns but does not rule—an idea that continues to define the British political system today.
