The phrase "royal pardon" refers to a decision made by a monarch to pardon someone from punishment for committing a crime. The word "royal" is pronounced /ˈrɔɪəl/, with stress on the first syllable, and the word "pardon" is pronounced /ˈpɑːrdən/, with stress on the second syllable. In IPA phonetic transcription, the stress is indicated by a vertical line before the stressed syllable, while the pronunciation of each individual phoneme is represented by a set of symbols.
A royal pardon refers to the formal act of forgiveness or exemption from punishment granted to an individual by a ruling monarch or a head of state. It is a sovereign prerogative exercised in many constitutional monarchies or countries with a similar governance structure. The royal pardon is typically granted to individuals who have been convicted of a crime, either after a trial or during the appellate process, and have exhausted all available legal avenues for an appeal or commutation of their sentence.
The act of issuing a royal pardon signifies an extraordinary exercise of clemency and is usually based on exceptional circumstances that warrant the intervention of the ruling authority. These circumstances may include humanitarian reasons, the presence of new evidence that casts significant doubt on the validity of the conviction, or the recognition of an individual's reformation or rehabilitation. However, the specific criteria for granting a royal pardon may vary depending on the legal and political frameworks of different countries.
A royal pardon has the legal effect of nullifying the criminal conviction and any associated penalties, thereby freeing the recipient from the burdens and consequences of their past offense. It may also restore certain rights, privileges, and social standing that had been lost due to the conviction. The pardon may be absolute, which erases all traces of guilt, or it can be conditional, imposing certain conditions or restrictions upon the individual's future behavior.
While a royal pardon has significant implications for those who receive it, it does not generally question the validity of the legal process or the verdict. Instead, it represents an exceptional act of mercy and compassion, often reserved for cases that align with the monarch's or the state's interests, public sentiment, or sense of justice.
The etymology of the word "royal pardon" can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts:
1. "Royal" - The term "royal" originates from the Old French word "roial", which in turn derives from the Latin word "regalis". It refers to something that is associated with or pertaining to a king or queen, or the ruling family.
2. "Pardon" - The word "pardon" comes from the Middle English word "pardoun", which is a loanword from the Old French word "pardun". It ultimately traces back to the Latin word "perdonare", meaning "to give wholeheartedly" or "to grant freely". In this context, a "pardon" refers to the act of forgiving, excusing, or absolving someone for a particular offense or wrongdoing.