🇬🇧UK Constitution and Government Unit 2 – The Monarchy and the Crown

Historical Evolution

• The British monarchy traces its origins back to the petty kingdoms of early medieval England and Scotland, which were eventually unified under a single ruler in the 9th century
• The Norman Conquest of 1066 established a strong centralized monarchy under William the Conqueror, who introduced feudalism and consolidated royal power
  • Feudalism involved the king granting land to nobles in exchange for military service and loyalty
• The Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215, limited the powers of the monarchy and established the principle of the rule of law
  • This document is considered a cornerstone of British constitutional history
• The Tudor period (1485-1603) saw the strengthening of the monarchy, with rulers such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I wielding significant power and influence
• The English Civil War (1642-1651) resulted in the temporary abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republican Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell
• The Restoration of 1660 saw the return of the monarchy under Charles II, followed by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which further limited the powers of the monarch and established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty
• The Act of Settlement (1701) established the Protestant succession to the throne, barring Catholics from becoming monarch
• The monarchy's role has gradually evolved over time, with its powers being increasingly limited by constitutional conventions and the growth of parliamentary democracy

Constitutional Role

• The British monarch is the head of state, embodying the nation's unity and continuity
• The monarch is a constitutional monarch, meaning their role is largely ceremonial and their powers are limited by constitutional conventions
  • Constitutional conventions are unwritten rules and practices that have developed over time and are considered binding
• The monarch acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and government ministers, who are responsible to Parliament
• The monarch appoints the Prime Minister, usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons
• The monarch gives royal assent to legislation passed by Parliament, which is necessary for bills to become law
  • The last time royal assent was refused was in 1708 by Queen Anne
• The monarch opens each new session of Parliament with the Queen's Speech, which outlines the government's legislative agenda
• The monarch is the head of the Church of England, with the title "Defender of the Faith"
• The monarch is the commander-in-chief of the British armed forces, though this role is largely ceremonial

Powers and Prerogatives

• The monarch's powers are known as royal prerogatives, which are executive powers that can be exercised without the consent of Parliament
• The royal prerogative includes the power to appoint and dismiss ministers, to summon and dissolve Parliament, and to grant honors and titles
  • In practice, these powers are exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister and government ministers
• The monarch has the power to declare war and make peace, though this is now subject to parliamentary approval
• The monarch has the power to grant pardons and reprieves, though this is rarely used and is subject to the advice of ministers
• The monarch has the power to confer honors, such as knighthoods and peerages
  • The honors system is administered by the government, with the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister
• The monarch has the power to grant royal charters to incorporated bodies, such as universities and professional organizations
• The monarch has the power to appoint bishops and archbishops of the Church of England
• Many of the monarch's prerogative powers have been limited or regulated by statute over time, such as the requirement for parliamentary approval for the ratification of treaties

Relationship with Parliament

• The British Parliament consists of the monarch, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords
• The monarch's relationship with Parliament is governed by the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, which means that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the United Kingdom
• The monarch opens each new session of Parliament with the Queen's Speech, which is written by the government and outlines its legislative agenda
• The monarch gives royal assent to legislation passed by Parliament, which is necessary for bills to become law
  • By convention, the monarch does not refuse royal assent, as doing so would be seen as a violation of parliamentary sovereignty
• The monarch appoints the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons
• The monarch meets regularly with the Prime Minister for private audiences, during which they discuss government business and the monarch can offer advice and counsel
  • The content of these meetings is confidential and the monarch is expected to remain politically neutral
• The monarch has the power to dissolve Parliament and call a general election, though this is now regulated by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
• The monarch has the power to prorogue Parliament, which means to suspend its sittings without dissolving it
  • This power was controversially used by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019, leading to a Supreme Court ruling that the prorogation was unlawful

Ceremonial Functions

• The British monarch performs a wide range of ceremonial functions, which serve to symbolize the nation's unity and continuity
• The monarch opens each new session of Parliament with the State Opening of Parliament, a grand ceremonial event that includes a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster
• The monarch attends the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, which marks the official birthday of the sovereign and includes a military parade and flypast
• The monarch hosts state visits by foreign heads of state, which involve elaborate ceremonies and banquets at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle
  • These visits are an important part of the UK's diplomatic relations and are used to strengthen ties with other countries
• The monarch attends the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, which honors those who have died in war
• The monarch presents honors and awards, such as knighthoods and medals, at investiture ceremonies held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle
• The monarch attends the annual Royal Ascot horse race meeting, a prestigious social event that attracts royalty and high society from around the world
• The monarch hosts garden parties at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, which are attended by thousands of guests from all walks of life

Public Perception and Media

• The British monarchy enjoys high levels of public support, with polls consistently showing that a majority of Britons favor retaining the institution
• The monarchy is seen as a symbol of national unity and continuity, providing a sense of stability and tradition in a rapidly changing world
• The monarch and other members of the royal family are widely admired for their dedication to public service and charitable work
  • The Queen is patron of over 600 charities and organizations, while other royals support a wide range of causes
• The monarchy attracts significant media attention, with royal events and milestones receiving extensive coverage in the press and on television
  • The weddings of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 were watched by millions around the world
• The monarchy has faced criticism and controversy at times, particularly during the 1990s when the marriages of three of the Queen's children ended in divorce
• The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 led to a public outpouring of grief and criticism of the royal family's initial response
• The monarchy has sought to modernize and adapt to changing social attitudes, with initiatives such as the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast and the royal family's use of social media
• The younger generation of royals, such as Prince William and Prince Harry, have been credited with bringing a fresh approach to the monarchy and engaging with new audiences

Debates and Controversies

• The British monarchy has faced various debates and controversies over the years, reflecting changing social attitudes and political developments
• The cost of the monarchy to the taxpayer has been a recurring issue, with some arguing that the institution is too expensive and should be scaled back or abolished
  • The Sovereign Grant, which funds the monarch's official duties and the maintenance of royal palaces, was £85.9 million in 2020-21
• The monarchy's exemption from freedom of information laws has been criticized as a lack of transparency and accountability
• The monarch's role as head of the Church of England has been questioned in an increasingly secular and multi-faith society
  • Some argue that the monarch should be replaced as head of the church by a elected or appointed figure
• The monarchy's role in the British honours system has been criticized as elitist and out of touch with modern values
  • There have been calls for reform of the system to make it more inclusive and meritocratic
• The monarchy's political neutrality has been challenged at times, with some accusing the Queen of intervening in political matters such as the Scottish independence referendum in 2014
• The treatment of Diana, Princess of Wales, by the royal family and the media has been a source of controversy and criticism
  • The Queen's initial response to Diana's death in 1997 was seen by some as cold and unsympathetic
• The decision of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to step back from their roles as senior royals in 2020 sparked debate about the future of the monarchy and its relevance in modern society

Future of the Monarchy

• The future of the British monarchy is a subject of ongoing debate and speculation, particularly as the Queen enters her late 90s and the prospect of a new monarch looms
• The Queen's heir apparent, Prince Charles, is widely seen as a modernizing influence on the monarchy, with a strong interest in environmental and social issues
  • However, Charles's popularity has been affected by his divorce from Diana and his subsequent marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles
• The younger generation of royals, particularly Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen as key to the monarchy's future popularity and relevance
  • William and Catherine have been credited with bringing a fresh approach to royal duties and engaging with new audiences through social media and public appearances
• The monarchy will need to continue to adapt to changing social attitudes and expectations, particularly around issues such as diversity, inclusion, and transparency
• The monarchy's role in the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 countries, many of which are former British colonies, is likely to come under increasing scrutiny
  • Some Commonwealth countries, such as Barbados, have announced plans to remove the Queen as head of state and become republics
• The monarchy's future will also depend on its ability to maintain public support and justify its cost to the taxpayer
  • Proposals for reform, such as reducing the number of working royals or opening up royal palaces to the public, may be necessary to sustain the institution in the long term
• Ultimately, the future of the monarchy will be shaped by a complex interplay of political, social, and cultural factors, as well as the personal qualities and actions of individual members of the royal family