Protest of the Prince Regent against the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, July 16, 1748

A printed version of the text can be found on pages 72 - 73 of The Legitimist Kalendar for the Year of Our Lord 1895, edited by the Marquis de Ruvigny and Raineval (London: Henry & Co., 1895).

Charles, Prince of Wales, Regent of Great Britain, etc., to all kings, princes, republics, etc.

No one is ignorant of the hereditary rights of our Royal House to the Throne of Great Britain. It is needless to enter into a particular detail thereof. All Europe is acquainted with the troubles which have so often disturbed these Kingdoms, and the wrongs we have suffered. She knows that length of time cannot alter the Constitution of the State; nor ground a prescription against the fundamental laws. She cannot see without astonishment that we should remain silent, while the powers in war are holding a treaty for a peace which may, without regard to the justice of our cause (in which all sovereigns are interested), agree upon and stipulate articles prejudicial to our interests, and to those of the subjects of our most honoured lord and father.

For these causes, authorised by the examples of our most honoured grandfather, and our most honoured lord and father, we, as well as in the name of our most honoured lord and father, who has given Us full powers by committing to us the Regency of his Kingdoms, as also in our own and proper name, as natural heir to the Crown, protest in the most solemn manner, and in the best form that may be done, against all that may be said, done, or stipulated, in the assembly now held at Aix-la-Chapelle, or in any other assembly, which in consequence thereof may be held in any other place, to the prejudice or diminution of the lawful rights of our most honoured lord and father, of our own, or those of the Princes or Princesses of our Royal House that are or shall be born.

We protest in like manner against all conventions, which may be stipulated in the assemblies aforesaid, which shall be contrary to the engagements before made with us.

Declaring by these presents, that we look upon, and shall ever look upon, as null and void and ineffectual, all that may be agreed upon and stipulated, which may tend to the diminution of our just rights, and the recognition of any other person whatsoever, in quality of sovereign of the Realms of Great Britain, other than the person of the Most High and Most Excellent Prince James III, our most honoured lord and father, and in default of him, to the person of his next heir, conformably to the fundamental laws of Great Britain.

We declare to all the subjects of our most honoured lord and father, and more particularly to those who have lately given us such strong proofs of their attachment to our Royal Family and the ancient constitution of the state, that nothing shall alter the warm and sincere love which our Birth inspires us with for them, and that the just Sense which We have of their fidelity, zeal, and courage, will never be effaced from our hearts; that far from listening to any proposal which may tend to annul or weaken those indissoluble bonds which unite us, we look upon ourselves, under the most intimate and indispensable obligation to be constantly attentive to everything that may contribute to their happiness; and that we shall be ever ready to spill even the last drop of our blood, to deliver them from a foreign yoke.

We protest and declare, that the defects which may be in this present protestation shall not hurt or prejudice our Royal House, and we reserve to ourselves all our rights and actions, which remain safe and entire.

Given at Paris, the 16th of July, 1748.

C.P.R.