What is Royal charter?
A '''royal charter''' is a [[law|legal]] document issued by the [[monarchy]] which gives certain [[rights]] to an organization. When an organization, for example: a [[university]], is founded there has to be an official document which lists the basic laws (the [[constitution]]) of the organization. If this document is given to the organization by the [[king]] or [[queen]] it is called a Royal charter. In [[Europe]] Royal charters have been used to create towns ever since the [[Middle Ages]]. The date when the charter was made is thought of as the date when the town was founded (started), even if there had been people living there many years before. Many groups such as the [[British East India Company]] were formed by Royal charter. Most British university operate under Royal Charters. This gives them the right to give [[Degree (school)|degrees]] to the students at the end of their studies. The [[BBC]] operates under a Royal Charter which lasts for a limited period of ten years, after which it is renewed. [[Charitable organization|Charities]] may also have Royal charters. They do not need to have one, but they are likely to be more successful if they have a Royal charter. {{stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Charter}} [[Category:Monarchy]] [[Category:Documents]] [[Category:Business law]]