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$Unique_ID{COW00569}
$Pretitle{405}
$Title{United Kingdom
The Monarchy in Britain}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{queen
royal
commonwealth
state
duke
prince
government
queen's
crown
princess}
$Date{1990}
$Log{Queen Elizibeth II*0056901.scf
The Royal Couple*0056902.scf
}
Country: United Kingdom
Book: The Monarchy in Britain
Author: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Date: 1990
The Monarchy in Britain
[See Queen Elizibeth II: Courtesy Embassy of the United Kingdom, New York.]
[See The Royal Couple: During happy times. Courtesy Embassy of the United
Kingdom, New York.]
Introduction
The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has seen the British monarchy adapt to
major changes in Britain's position in the world and in British society. On
her accession to the throne in 1952, the Queen reigned over more than 50
dependencies, most of which have since become independent members of the
Commonwealth. The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth and many of its members
continue to recognise her as head of State. Modern communications have enabled
the Queen and the royal family to make more overseas visits and in Britain
television has brought them much closer to the people. Meetings with ordinary
men and women at home and abroad have accelerated the trend towards making the
British monarchy a less aloof institution while still evoking the national
memory of centuries of history. The Queen personifies both national and
Commonwealth unity, and the entire royal family play a supporting role,
undertaking arduous programmes. A combination of the formal and the informal
is a special feature of today's monarchy, combining traditional pomp and
ceremony with direct contact with people from all walks of life in their towns
or at work. Both in Britain and during Commonwealth tours, `walkabouts' have
become a popular feature. Royal jubilees, birthdays and weddings provide
opportunities for a practical affirmation of the close and affectionate
relationship between monarchy and people.
The development of the monarchy during the Queen's reign is only the most
recent example of its long evolution in the light of changing circumstances.
It is the oldest secular institution in Britain, going back to at least the
ninth century. The Queen can trace her descent from King Egbert, who united
all England under his sovereignty in 829. The monarchy antedates Parliament
by four centuries, and the law courts by three. Its continuity has been
broken only once (during the republic under Cromwell from 1649 to 1660).
There have been interruptions in the direct line of succession, but the
hereditary principle has always been preserved. In Anglo-Saxon times the
`Kings of the English' were elected by the Witan from among the males of the
royal line, and the elective principle was, in form at least, preserved under
the first Norman kings, who submitted themselves to election, or more
accurately `recognition', by the Commune Concilium (an act of recognition
still forms part of the modern coronation service). Thereafter the hereditary
system became firmly established.
For centuries the monarch personally exercised supreme executive,
legislative and judicial power, but with the growth of Parliament and the
courts, the direct exercise of these functions gradually decreased. The
seventeenth-century struggle between Crown and Parliament led, in 1688-89, to
the establishment of a limited constitutional monarchy. The monarch, however,
remained the centre of executive power throughout most of the eighteenth
century, and appointed and dismissed ministers. By the end of the nineteenth
century, with the establishment of responsible government and of the modern
party system, the monarch's active participation in politics had become
minimal.
Responsible government in Britain has two main elements: ministers are
responsible to Parliament in that they cannot govern without the support of an
elected majority; and they are responsible for the advice they tender to the
Queen, and, therefore, for any action she may take. Political decisions are
taken by the ministers, and the Queen performs the functions of an impartial
head of State.
This pamphlet describes the monarchy as it operates today and some of the
traditions associated with it.
The Royal Family
When the Queen was born on 21 April 1926, her grandfather, King George V,
was on the throne and her uncle was his heir. She was the first child of the
Duke and Duchess of York, and was christened in the chapel of Buckingham
Palace, being given the names Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The death of her
grandfather and the abdication of her uncle (King Edward VIII) brought her
father to the throne in 1936 as King George VI and she became Heiress
Presumptive. As a child her studies were extended to include lessons on
constitutional history and law, while she also studied art and music. In
addition she learned to ride and acquired her enthusiasm for horses. As she
grew older she began to take part in public life, making her first broadcast
at the age of 14. Early in 1945 she became a subaltern in the Auxiliary
Territorial Services (ATS) and by the end of the war had reached the rank of
Junior Commander.
The announcement of the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant
Philip Mountbatten, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and one of Queen
Victoria's great-great-grandsons (now Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh) whom
the Princess had known for many years, was made in 1947. Their wedding took
place in Westminster Abbey in November 1947. (Their Silver Wedding was
celebrated in London in 1972). She came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and
was crowned on 2 June 1953. Since then, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh,
she has undertaken numerous tours throughout the Commonwealth at the
invitation of the host governments, besides paying frequent visits to overseas
countries outside the Commonwealth at the invitation of foreign heads of
State. She has also made many visits throughout the United Kingdom, to fulfil
engagements in connection with agriculture, industry, education, the arts,
medicine and sport and as a means of keeping in touch with new developments in
these fields. In 1977 her Silver Jubilee was celebrated in the United Kingdom
and throughout the Commonwealth. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the
Queen travelled some 90,000 km (56,000 miles) to share the anniversary with
her people. Enormous crowds greeted them wherever they went, with millions
more sharing in the celebrations through radio and television. On 21 April
1986, in celebration of her sixtieth birthday, the Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh attended a service of thanksgiving at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
The Queen also received birthday greetings from schoolchildren in the
forecourt of Buckingham Palace and in the evening, accompanied by the Duke of
Edinburgh, attended a special performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden.
The Queen usually undertakes at least two overseas tours every year. In
1986 these included a State visit to the People's Republic of China, while in
1987 she visited the Federal Republic of Germany in May in connection with the
750th anniversary celebrations of Berlin, and in October toured Canada at the
time of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver, where she
received the heads of delegations of 45 Commonwealth countries. Her most
recent tour, in April and May 1988, was to Australia, during which she opened
the new Parliament House in Canberra.
The Queen is an owner and breeder of thoroughbred horses, and often goes
to race meetings to watch her horses run. She is also a frequent visitor at
equestrian events.
The Duke of Edinburgh was born in 1921 and educated at Gordonstoun and
the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He served at sea throughout the war, b