Royalty

France became a democratic republic whereas the United Kingdom became a parliamentary monarchy. An hereditary monarch is choosen and in charge of executive, judicial and legislative powers. The monarch is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Head of State of the Fifteen Kingdoms of the Commonwealth. Those countries are now independant. Since the reign of George VI, the monarch is the Symbolic Governor of the 56 Commonwealth countries.

The United Kingdom has retained its original essence despite modernity and evolution through the time. In 1603 March the 24th, the Personal Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England happened and then, two other events took place : in 1707 May the first, Merger of the Crowns of Scotland and England and finally, in 1801 January the first, Merger of the Crowns of Great Britain and Ireland. In one word, the unification of all lands.

Nowadays, the monarch is less powerful. Since the Magna Carta, english civil war and restoration. The role of the monarch is constitutionnal and limited to non-partisan ceremonial functions. Those changements don’t prevent him to keep an eye on the decisions and to act if necessary.

The Official Residence is St James’s Palace but the usual one is Buckingham Palace.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northem Ireland, the head of government at the head of the executive branch is currently Sir Keir Starmer.

The most famous name is Winston Churchill during the second world war. It was the dawn of the epoch of Queen Elizabeth II and since she passed away, her son Charles became the new king. George VI was her father.

Before her reign, another queen was particulary loved by everyone, the Queen Victoria.

The britain monarchy has always protected its history, culture, traditions and values with heart and intelligence. Most of the monarchs maintained their dignity and kept their cool.

Democratic republic

The current french constitution dates from 1958, it’s the Fifth Republic.

There was a crisis in 1958 May : the Algiers Putsch lead by some members of the army and civilians. There are willing to see Charles De Gaulle elected. On June, he’s named Chairman of the Board. Two days later, he obtained the authorization to write a new constitution. Drafted under the authority of the government by a team led by Michel Debré (Minister of Justice and future Prime Minister), the project is approved by referendum in 1958 September the 28th and becomes the 1958 October the 4th Constitution often called the Fifth Republic Constitution.

Our current President of the Republic is Emmanuel Macron and our Prime Minister is Sébastien Lecornu.

The British National Anthem

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us;
God save the King!

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall!
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all!

Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour;
Long may he reign;
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice:
God save the King!

The people believe in their king and their queen. They have a deep faith in the one that represents them over the world, they are also very proud and happy to share their culture and their history because they like their lands and would be able to protect it till death with courage and no regret. The people are devoted to the British Crown.

The French National Anthem

La Marseillaise :

Allons, enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L’étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !

(refrain)

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

Que veut cette horde d’esclaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage !
Quels transports il doit exciter !
C’est nous qu’on ose méditer
De rendre à l’antique esclavage !

Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers !
Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis)
Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient !
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres de nos destinées !

Tremblez, tyrans, et vous, perfides,
L’opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre,
S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros,
La terre en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre !

Français, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups !
Épargnez ces tristes victimes,
À regret s’armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère !

Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs.
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !

(« couplet des enfants »)

Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus,
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre.

The French National Anthem delivers a message to support the people to fight for freedom and to protect theirs no matter the ennemy in front of them. This is a war song that calls on soldiers to fight against Europeans tyrants, from Germany or England, who don’t want a revolutionnary France on their borders. That’s why it’s first called the war song for the Rhine Army and then, war song on borders. Sang all along by the soldiers from Marseilles on their way to Paris, it become the anthem of the people of Marseille and in the end, simply, la Marseillaise.

Strike

In France : The right to strike is enshrined in the Preamble to the 1946 Constitution after a fight during the 19th century. Two principles must be respected : continuity of public service and protection of the health and safety of people and property. In 2006, the Court of Cassation gives a definition : the collective, concerted and total cessation of work with a view to presenting professional demands to the employer.

In 1864 May the 25th, the Ollivier Act abolishes the offense of coalition and recognises the right to strike. In 1895, creation of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT). Finally, in 1946 October the 27th, you can read : the right to strike is exercised within the framework of the laws that regulate it. Every man may defend his rights and interest through trade union and join the trade union of his choice.

A great victory for the French people who enjoy using this right. They like so much that they have made a website to inform about it and even a calendar to book them : https://www.cestlagreve.fr/

You can say strike is part of French culture and mindset.

In England, strikes are much more tightly regulated. Strikes are only protected by law if they involve employees and their direct employer. Any trade union action in sympathy or solidarity is prohibited in British law.

Freedom of Expression

In 2025 March the 6th in Euronews, Keir Starmer said that freedom of expression does exist for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom and it will last for a very, very long time. He added that he would certainly not target the american citizens and that he won’t and that’s all right. He’s also said that concerning the freedom of expression in the United Kingdom, he felt very proud about the history.

So why going on strike?

In France, Article 11 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen adopted in 1789 August the 24th : The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the most precious rights of man : any citizen may therefore speak, write, and print freely, except in cases determined by the law, where he may be held accountable for abuse of this freedom.

So why going on strike?

Perhaps, England enjoys this right in a natural, innate, spontaneous manner whereas France had to fight for it through the revolution and the fight by killing their king and queen and establishing a democratic republic during which the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was written. Before it, the authors which couldn’t publish their books in France went to England to escape from censorship. Voltaire was happily surprised by their naturally free way to be.

England didn’t need to kill for this freedom. It was already established for a very long time.

The right to divorce

In France, a few steps were necessary. In 1792 September the 20th, divorce was approved. Divorce can be granted by mutual consent. The procedure is simple and divorce mau be granted without any grounds. Fault-based divorce is introduced. A delay of two years should be respected.

In 1816 May the 8th, divorce was once again abolished by the Ronald law, which considered it to be revolutionnary poison. The monarchy wanted to restore the dignity of marriage in the interests of religion, morals, the monarchy and the family.

In 1884 July the 27th, Alfred Naquet succeeded in getting a divorce law passed, but only in cases of specific serious misconduct.

During the Vichy regime, married couples who had been married for less than three years could not divorce.

In 1975 July the 11th, Valery Giscard d’Estaing enacted the law reforming divorce.

In 2017 January the first, divorce by mutual consent agreement came into force in France allowing the couples to divorce without being obliged to see a judge.

The first recorded divorce in England took place in 1670, between Lord Roos and Lady Anne Pierrepont. The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857 was a landmark legislation that allowed individuals to obtain a divorce through the civil courts rather than solely relying on the church.  In 1923, a notable case known as the “Russell v. Russell” divorce case allowed for the recognition of women’s right to petition for divorce on the grounds of their husband’s cruelty, marking a significant milestone in women’s rights in divorce. In 1937, the law was further amended to allow for “mental cruelty” as a ground for divorce, expanding the scope of divorce law. In 1969, the Divorce Reform Act introduced “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as the sole ground for divorce, shifting from fault-based to no-fault divorce, making divorce more accessible and less contentious.