During today's meeting of the Royal Assembly a vote was expected on the new Cultural Education Bill (2021). The new Bill would make it a requirement that all students learn two languages, religious education in the nations five biggest religions (Catholic, Protestant, Paganism, Judiasm and Cult of Helus) are made compulsory for students exams at the age of 16 and the Bill also would require students to undertake studies in various authors. The Bill was put forward by Queen Octavia II however as it also included a large increase in funding for the upkeep of Royal Residences because they are "vital for the prestige of the nation." it has been opposed by many members of the Royal Assemblies elected membership. At the same time President Kauffmann has been seeking amendments to remove the residence provision. As the Bill has been determined to be an Educational Bill then it requires two approvals from the three forms of government, the monarch, the President and the Royal Assembly. As tradition dictates the Royal Assemblies 50 members voted first to determine the Assemblies stance. They voted 41-8 against the Bill with one member of the Assembly not attending the vote for health reasons. President Kauffmann then offered her support for the Bill should Queen Octavia remove the provisions of residence funding. At this point the Queen simply stood and left the Assembly bringing the vote on the Bill to a standstill.
President Kauffmann spoke with us after the session ended and said. "Her Majesty must realise that the Royal Family are among the most wealthy in the nation, they sit on a publicly declared income of around $42million a year from their investments and landholdings. Why should the tax payer subsidise the upkeep of their private homes when they are multi-millionaires." The President has called for the Queen to use more of her private wealth, thought to be close to $80million, for the business of the family. At the moment the Royals get an annual payment of $18million for their use but Kaufmann has sought to end this. With many of the Palaces and Estates being open to the public though the vast majority of this sum goes to looking after them. The new Bill would make the government responsible for even private venues.
Queen Octavia II has now departed three Royal Assembly meetings over the last month. The first was on matters of the Nuclear Neutrality Bill. This Bill would make it a legally binding policy of Lymm defence policy that the nation would never develop nuclear weapons. The Queen used her veto before the vote for the Royal Assembly could even be taken. The 2nd occasion came on the grounds of the Global Athletics Bill which would allow the Lymm Ministry of Sport to sign up for the International Mundus Games. The Queen insisted that all sports teams would be required to fulfil certain quotas along nations faith lines in order to be allowed to compete. The Royal Assembly voted against this with leading figure Robert Ulrich stating "We are a diverse nation, but a meritocracy. The best athletes should done the green jersey of our nation regardless of faith, colour, gender or sexuality. The only criteria should be are you good enough." The Queen stormed out of that meeting too.
Some on social media are already called Queen Octavia II, Octavia the Petulant as it seems she has child like tantrums when she does not get her way.