British monarchy

:This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. In the other Commonwealth Realms, the constitutional role of the monarchy is identical, but the historical and cultural significance may differ.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Commonwealth Realm

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The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom. The current British monarchy can trace its line back to the Anglo-Saxon period. During the ninth century, Wessex came to dominate other kingdoms, and during the tenth, England was consolidated into a single realm. Most British monarchs in the Middle Ages ruled as absolute monarchs, as was standard across most of Europe. However, their power was often limited by the nobility and, later, by an increasingly democratic House of Commons. The powers of the monarchy, known as the Royal Prerogative, are still very extensive. Most prerogative powers are exercised directly by ministers, such as the power to regulate the civil service and the power to issue passports. A few major powers are exercised nominally by the monarch herself, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and according to constitutional convention. An example is the power to dissolve Parliament. According to a parliamentary report {{ref|parl}}, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers" and "It is long established law that Parliament can override and displace the prerogative by statute".

Related Topics:
Head of state - United Kingdom - Anglo-Saxon - Wessex - England - Middle Ages - Absolute monarchs - Royal Prerogative - Prime Minister - Cabinet - Constitutional convention

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It has long been established in the Constitution of the United Kingdom that political power is ultimately exercised by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, of which the Sovereign is a non-partisan, largely ceremonial component, along with the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Related Topics:
Constitution of the United Kingdom - Parliament of the United Kingdom - House of Lords - House of Commons

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Thus, as the modern British monarchy is a constitutional one, the Sovereign's role is in practice limited to ceremonial and non-partisan functions (such as being the Fount of Honour). This role has been recognised since the nineteenth century; Walter Bagehot famously identified the monarchy as the "dignified part" (that is, ceremonial), rather than the "efficient part" of government in The English Constitution (1867). In practice, political power is exercised today through Parliament and by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Sovereign is the Supreme Governor of the established Church of England, but in practice the spiritual leadership of the Church is the responsibility of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Related Topics:
Constitutional - Walter Bagehot - 1867 - Supreme Governor - Church of England - Archbishop of Canterbury

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The present monarch is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952. The heir apparent is her eldest son, His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales undertakes various public ceremonial functions, as does the Queen's husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. There are several other members of Royal Family besides those aforementioned, including the Queen's other children, grandchildren and cousins. The British monarch is also Head of the Commonwealth and the monarch of fifteen other Commonwealth realms.

Related Topics:
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - 6 February - 1952 - Heir apparent - His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales - His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - Royal Family - Head of the Commonwealth - Commonwealth realms

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