British Subjects - Other Terms

Other Terms

Although the term "British subject" now has a very restrictive statutory definition in the United Kingdom, and it would therefore be incorrect to describe a British citizen as a British subject, the concept of a "subject" is still recognised by the law, and the terms "the Queen's subjects", "Her Majesty's subjects", etc., continue to be used in British legal discourse.

The term "United Kingdom national" (sometimes referred to as "British national"), is used differently in various statutes, but most commonly means British Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Overseas Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), (and usually) British Subjects (as defined in the 1981 Act) and British Protected Persons. British Protected Persons are an especial grey area; they are neither Commonwealth citizens (i.e. British subjects in the old sense), nor aliens. Although they are not traditionally considered to be British nationals, since they are not considered to be stateless under international law they must be nationals of the United Kingdom.

In order to cover the various classes of British nationals, the following wording is currently used in drafting legislation:

A person who is:

(a) a British citizen, a British Overseas Territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen; or

(b) a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 is a British subject; or

(c) a British protected person (within the meaning of that Act).