Could Cersei have stopped it?

[Ser Leftwich]

For the story to progress, Ned had to die, so GRRM wrote a circumstance so that it could happen. Cersei could not have stopped it.

Tywin would have prevented such a public situation where Joffrey could make such an execution order before it ever happened.

[Dagon Greyjoy]

Cersei couldn't do anything or she would had humiliated the king after he commanded Ned's head to be chopped

Which ironically is exactly what Cersei should have done if looking to preserve her own power: Humble Joff publicly and show everyone in the realm she was the one calling the shots. Surround Joiff with her own loyalists, manipulate the court to heed her, and keep her own son as a figurehead king. Her regime was based on the backing of House Lannister either way.

[Sansa_Stark]

For the story to progress, Ned had to die, so GRRM wrote a circumstance so that it could happen. Cersei could not have stopped it.

Tywin would have prevented such a public situation where Joffrey could make such an execution order before it ever happened.

And even if Joffrey tried to make it happen, Tywin would tell Payne and Slynt to back the f*** down. We all know people fear/respect Tywin more than they do a dumbass boy king.

[DavosSeaworthy]

She could have stopped it, but why would she just allow Ned Stark to go back North with information that can haunt her so long as her family rules in KL? Once Ned Stark played his hand there was no way he could live.

Cersei fully believed that Ned would keep this a secret, his childrens lives were at stake. Could she have stopped it? Yes. Would it have been wise? No. Only Tywin and Tyrion would have had the sense and the balls to stop it.

[AvengerofWinterfell]

to quote Tyrion from the show..."its hard control a dog after you put a crown on its head." She had pushed him onto the throne without realizing how crazy & cruel he was but at that point he had more power than her

[Ser Pounce FTW]

And even if Joffrey tried to make it happen, Tywin would tell Payne and Slynt to back the f*** down. We all know people fear/respect Tywin more than they do a dumbass boy king.

So it sounds as if the consenses here is that Cersei couldn't stop him because she was too weak and powerless to do anything about it but that Tywin would have been able to say stop. Is that correct?

I believe Tywin might have seen the prudence in not having a public scene which would have made all the difference in the world.

[Winter's Knight]

to quote Tyrion from the show..."its hard control a dog after you put a crown on its head." She had pushed him onto the throne without realizing how crazy & cruel he was but at that point he had more power than her

Eh? Joff being king wasn't something she could prevent.

[Zman1863]

Eh? Joff being king wasn't something she could prevent.

It's not about her being unable to prevent Joffrey becoming king in name; Joffrey became king in name on Robert's death. But since he was underage his regent would have all the power. But in her power play against Ned, Cersei set Joffrey on the throne immediately and let him have a degree of free reign with his powers- Joffrey should never have been in the throne room at all when Ned was arrested. And once they set up that public scene at the sept, there was really nothing she could do. Cersei demonstrates that she knows that she gave Joffrey too loose a leash by refusing to let Tommen anywhere near the trappings of power.

So it sounds as if the consenses here is that Cersei couldn't stop him because she was too weak and powerless to do anything about it but that Tywin would have been able to say stop. Is that correct?

I believe Tywin might have seen the prudence in not having a public scene which would have made all the difference in the world.

That's how I view it also. Once there was a public scene I'm not even sure that Tywin could have stopped it- Varys's riddle and all that- but if Tywin had been in KL the public spectacle would never have happened and if there was a public shaming of Ned, the king would have been tucked away in his chambers somewhere.

[TalalOfDorne]

I dont think she could have stopped it that easily. And if she did, it would mean going against the king publicly which wont look good for them.

[Golden Lion]

Cersei fully believed that Ned would keep this a secret, his childrens lives were at stake. Could she have stopped it? Yes. Would it have been wise? No. Only Tywin and Tyrion would have had the sense and the balls to stop it.

Tyrion would have failed to stop it if he was in the same place outside the sept with cersei.

It happened too quickly to be stopped by words, the only person who has more power is Tywin. He is the only one who could have stopped it had he actually been there, but he wasn't. And it doesn't matter who else you name, they would have failed to stop it.