LE ROY LE VEUT

le roy le veut (l<<schwa>>r wah l<<schwa>> voo). [Law French] Hist. The king (or the queen) wills it. • This is the form of the king’s or queen’s approval to a public bill passed by Parliament. For a queen, the sentence is la reine le veut.

“If the king consents to a public bill, the clerk usually declares, ‘le roy le veut, the king wills it so to be:’ if to a private bill, ‘soit fait comme il est desiré, be it as it is desired.’ If the king refuses his assent, it is in the gentle language of ‘le roy s’avisera, the king will advise upon it.’ ” 1 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 184 (1765).

[Blacks Law 8th]