Omar Bennett
Queen Elizabeth II was the constitutional monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms at the time of her death in 2022. A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a hereditary monarch serves as head of state but exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and does not have absolute power. The British monarchy is an example of a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch's powers regulated by the British constitution. Elizabeth II was also the Queen of Canada, where the monarchy is viewed as a fundamental part of the country's system of government and sense of identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Monarchy | Constitutional monarchy, also known as limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy |
| Monarch's Role | Head of State |
| Monarch's Powers | Bound to exercise powers and authorities within limits prescribed by an established legal framework |
| Monarch's Authority | Authority over the government, but this power may only be used according to laws enacted in Parliament and within constraints of convention and precedent |
| Monarch's Influence | The monarch's influence on the choice of prime minister has declined over time |
| Prime Minister's Term | In practice, the prime minister's term comes to an end only by electoral defeat, death, or resignation |
| Royal Assent | Required before a bill passed by the legislative Houses can become law |
| Monarch's Duties | Constitutional, representative, civic, official, ceremonial, diplomatic, and representational duties |
| Monarch's Image | Used to signify British sovereignty and government authority, appearing on Bank of England notes, British coins, and government buildings |
| Oaths of Allegiance | Made to the Sovereign and their lawful successors |
| Monarch's Involvement in Legislation | The ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament |
| Monarch's Political Role | The Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role |
| Monarch's Country Representation | The monarch is supported by members of their immediate family in their duties and in representing the country |
| Monarch's National Role | The monarch acts as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, giving a sense of stability and continuity |
| Monarch's Support | The monarch supports the ideal of voluntary service |
| Monarch's Succession | The Succession to the Throne Act, 2013, outlines the process of succession |
| Monarch's Popularity | Support for the monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II's personal popularity in the United Kingdom remained consistently high |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II was a constitutional monarch
Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms at the time of her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime. As a constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth II undertook constitutional and representational duties, as well as a less formal role as the 'Head of the Nation'. She was the focus for national identity, unity, and pride, and she gave a sense of stability and continuity. She also officially recognised success and excellence and supported the ideal of voluntary service.
In addition to her duties as the sovereign of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II was also the Queen of Nigeria, Malta, and Trinidad and Tobago for a time. These countries were constitutional monarchies with Elizabeth II as their queen, represented by a Governor-General appointed by her. In these roles, she had little direct involvement in the government, and her authority was delegated to ministers or officers of the Crown, or other public bodies.
Queen Elizabeth II's role as a constitutional monarch is further illustrated by the Lascelles Principles, a constitutional convention asserted by the Monarch's Private Secretary, Sir Alan "Tommy" Lascelles, in 1950. According to these principles, the monarch has the power to refuse a minority government's request to dissolve parliament to call an early election if certain conditions are met. This demonstrates how the monarch's powers are limited and regulated by the constitution.
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The UK is a constitutional monarchy
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's role is largely ceremonial and representative. They undertake official, diplomatic, and constitutional duties, such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister. While the monarch formally has authority over the government, known as "His/Her Majesty's Government", their power is limited and can only be used within the constraints of laws enacted in Parliament and established legal frameworks.
The UK's constitutional monarchy can be traced back to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which was furthered by laws such as the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701. The first form of a constitution in the UK was enacted with the Magna Carta of 1215. Over time, the monarch's influence on political decisions has decreased, with the last monarch to veto an Act of Parliament being Queen Anne in 1708.
Public support for the monarchy in the UK has generally remained high, with polls from 2002 to 2007 showing that around 70-80% of the British public supported the continuation of the monarchy. However, there have been periods of increased republican sentiment, particularly following the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the various breakdowns of her children's marriages. Despite this, the monarchy continues to play an important part in the life of the nation, with the sovereign acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride.
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The role of the monarch in the UK
The UK is a constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited monarchy, parliamentary monarchy or democratic monarchy. This means that while the monarch is the head of state, they do not rule the country. Governing is undertaken by an elected parliament and government.
The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne on 8 September 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch's role in government takes place largely behind the scenes. The public is more likely to see them in a ceremonial role, such as on Remembrance Day, or during the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey. The monarch also gives a Christmas broadcast and, in exceptional circumstances, may give a broadcast on other occasions, such as at the start of the Covid pandemic.
The monarch and their immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic and representational duties. They have a unique cultural role, serving as an unofficial brand ambassador for British interests and values abroad, increasing tourism at home, and promoting charities throughout civil society. The monarch also acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride, and gives a sense of stability and continuity.
Although formally the monarch has authority over the government, this power may only be used according to laws enacted in Parliament and within constraints of convention and precedent. In practice, the monarch's role is limited to functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister. The monarch's role as a constitutional monarch is largely limited to non-partisan functions, such as granting honours.
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The history of the UK monarchy
The British monarchy, or the monarchy of the United Kingdom, is a constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy. This means that while the monarch is the head of state, their powers are regulated by the British constitution. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022. Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.
The British monarchy traces its origins back to the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, which consolidated into the kingdoms of England and Scotland by the 10th century. Egbert (827-839) was the first monarch to establish a stable and extensive rule over all of Anglo-Saxon England. After him came a succession of kings, including his son, Athelwulf (839-858), and Athelwulf's son, Alfred the Great (871-899), who ruled Wessex and defended it against the Vikings. Alfred's son, Edward the Elder (899-924), and grandson, Athelstan (924-939), gradually expanded their control over the rest of England, with Athelstan becoming the first to adopt the title "King of the English."
In 1066, England was conquered by the Normans, and Wales gradually came under Anglo-Norman control. The process was completed in the 13th century when the Principality of Wales became a client state of the English kingdom. The Anglo-Normans also established the Lordship of Ireland, and the Crown of Ireland Act of 1542 granted English monarchs the title of King of Ireland.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 furthered the constitutional monarchy in England, with laws such as the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Act of Settlement of 1701 restricting the powers of the monarchy. At the same time, the Convention of Estates in Scotland enacted the Claim of Right Act of 1689, which placed similar limits on the Scottish monarchy.
In 1707, the kingdoms of England and Scotland were merged to create the Kingdom of Great Britain, and in 1801, the Kingdom of Ireland joined to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The British Empire, of which the British monarch was the nominal head, covered a quarter of the world's land area at its peak in 1921. However, after World War II, most British colonies gained independence, effectively ending the Empire.
In modern times, the monarchy in the United Kingdom continues to play a cultural and diplomatic role, promoting British interests and values abroad and serving as a soft power asset. While the monarch has formal authority over the government, their role is largely limited to official, ceremonial, and representational duties, such as appointing the prime minister and bestowing honours.
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Other constitutional monarchies
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government and acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state. The monarch's role is largely symbolic, and they mainly perform representative and civic duties. They have little direct involvement in the government's day-to-day activities, which are instead handled by the Prime Minister and other elected officials.
There are several other constitutional monarchies around the world, including:
- Japan, which has the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.
- Norway, whose monarchy descends from Harald I Fairhair, who united the realm in 872.
- Spain, where the monarch has a limited, largely ceremonial role.
- Belgium, where the new monarch assumes the throne only after taking a constitutional oath.
- Thailand, which transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932 and is now the second-most populous constitutional monarchy in the world.
- Canada, where the monarch, currently King Charles III, remains a fundamental part of the country's system of government and sense of identity.
- Bhutan, where the constitution grants substantial discretionary powers to the sovereign.
- Jordan, where the monarch has substantial discretionary powers.
- Liechtenstein and Monaco, where the Prince retains many powers of an absolute monarch, including the ability to veto laws and hire or dismiss government employees.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not the sole decision-maker. The monarch's powers are limited by an established legal framework.
Yes, the UK is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state and has a ceremonial role, but does not exercise executive power.
Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch of the UK until her death on September 8, 2022. She was also the Queen of other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica.
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy varies but generally includes representative and civic duties. They may also have some formal powers, such as dissolving parliament or giving royal assent to legislation, but these powers are typically limited and must be exercised in accordance with constitutional principles.
The British monarchy is similar to other European monarchies in terms of its constitutional role, as all have relinquished political power. However, the British monarchy has a larger royal family and more grandeur in its ceremonial occasions. Additionally, the British monarch is the head of state of 14 other countries, giving it a unique international profile.
