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$Unique_ID{bob00538}
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$Title{United Kingdom
The Monarchy in Britain}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{queen
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commonwealth
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duke
prince
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$Date{1990}
$Log{See Queen Elizibeth II*0053801.scf
See The Royal Couple*0053802.scf
}
Title:       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, by
the end of which he was a Lieutenant. He ceased holding active naval
appointments in 1951. The Duke has played an outstanding part in the nation's
life and holds many important Service appointments and acts as patron or
president of a large number of national organisations. In particular he
interests himself in scientific and technological research and development, in
the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people and in the
conservation and state of the environment. The Duke was President of the World
Wildlife Fund UK from 1961 to 1982 and has been President of the World Wide
Fund for Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund International) since 1981.
He has also been closely involved in the development and growth of the Duke of
Edinburgh's Award Scheme and devotes much time to meeting its participants and
helpers. It is a programme of challenging leisure-time activities for young
people from all over the Commonwealth, and encourages community service,
adventure and personal achievement. Since its foundation in 1956 some 2
million young people have taken part. A keen sportsman, he formerly played
polo regularly and was President of the International Equestrian Federation
from 1964 to 1986.

     The Queen's heir is Charles, Prince of Wales, who was born in 1948 and
educated at Gordonstoun, at Geelong Grammar School in Australia, at Trinity
College, Cambridge, and at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He
has served in the Royal Navy (besides obtaining his Wings after taking an
advanced flying course at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell) and since
1977, in addition to his normal round of royal duties and travel abroad, has
been pursuing a programme of familiarisation with various aspects of public
life in Britain. His particular interests include industry (he is closely
involved with Business in the Community and the Prince's Youth Business Trust
which encourages small firms and self-employment in inner cities), government,
young people, education, conservation, architecture and disability. He was
installed as Chancellor of the University of Wales in 1977 and since 1978
has been President of the International Council of the United World Colleges.
On 29 July 1981 the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer (now the
Princess of Wales), the youngest daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Hon Mrs
Shand-Kydd, at St Paul's Cathedral. They have two children: Prince William of
Wales, born on 21 June 1982, who is second in line of succession to the
throne, and Prince Henry of Wales, born on 15 September 1984, who is third
in line of succession to the throne.

     The Princess of Wales was born in 1961 and brought up at her father's
house on the Queen's estate at Sandringham, and at the family home of Althorp
near Northampton. The Princess has undertaken several tours abroad with the
Prince of Wales as well as visits alone. Her interests, which include Wales,
the disabled, children and their problems and development, ballet and music,
are reflected in the organisations of which she has become patron or
president, including the Royal School for the Blind, the British Deaf
Association, Help the Aged, the Welsh National Opera, and Birthright, a
charity which researches into the causes and prevention of abnormalities in
pregnancy, childbirth and infancy.

     The Queen's younger sons, Andrew, Duke of York, born in 1960, and Prince
Edward, born in 1964, were both educated at Gordonstoun. The Duke of York is
at present serving, in preparation for his own command, as an officer on board
the destroyer HMS Edinburgh. The Duke married Miss Sarah Ferguson in July
1986. Prince Edward, who is pursuing a career in the theatre, is patron of the
National Youth Theatre. Their sister, Anne, Princess Royal, born in 1950, is
Chancellor of the University of London and President of the Save the Children
Fund, on behalf of which she has undertaken extensive tours of Africa, the
Middle East and the South Asian subcontinent. The Princess Royal, who
succeeded her father as President of the International Equestrian Federation
in 1986, is an excellent horsewoman and a former Sportswoman of the Year.
Married to Captain Mark Phillips, her son Peter Phillips, the Queen's first
grandchild, was born in 1977 and her daughter Zara in 1981.

     The Queen's mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the widow of the
late King George VI, celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday in 1985 and
continues to carry out many public engagements every year. The Queen's only
sister, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, has a son and a daughter by
her former husband, the Earl of Snowdon. She is patron or president of a
great number of public bodies, many of them concerned with youth activities,
children's welfare, care of the sick, and nursing organisations.

     Among the Queen's other near relations, all of whom play a significant
part in public life, are her first cousins - grandchildren of her grandfather
King George V - the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, Prince Michael and Princess
Alexandra, the Hon Mrs Angus Ogilvy. The Duke of Gloucester, who married Miss
Birgitte van Deurs in 1972 and is an architect by profession, carries out a
substantial number of public duties and is patron of more than 50
organisations. He has undertaken many overseas visits on behalf of the Queen,
attending, for example, the independence celebrations of the Seychelles in
1976, the Solomon Islands in 1978, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979
and Vanuatu in 1980. The Duke of Kent, a former serving Lieutenant-Colonel in
the Army (who now ranks as supernumerary Major General), is Vice-Chairman of
the British Overseas Trade Board. The Duchess of Kent, the former Miss
Katharine Worsley, is patron of several organisations, including Age Concern,
Cancer Relief, the Samaritans and the Spastics Society. Princess Alexandra,
sister of the Duke of Kent, has represented the Queen on many occasions in
Britain and overseas. She is Vice-President of the British Red Cross Society
and President of the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind. Prince Michael
of Kent was until 1981 a Major in the Army, but is now a director of Standard
Telephones and Cables besides holding other business appointments. He is
married to the former Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz.

The Queen's Style and Titles

     The development of the royal style and titles can be traced through a
variety of changes reflecting historical events in the kingdoms of England and
Scotland, in the union of those kingdoms in 1707, in the union with Ireland in
1801, and in the development of the Commonwealth. Today they are such as may
be determined by the Crown under the authority of the Royal Titles Act 1953
and previous legislation. The Queen's title in the United Kingdom is:
`Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen,
Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.' The form of the royal title
is varied for the other member nations of the Commonwealth in which the Queen
is head of State to suit the particular circumstances of each; all these forms
include, however, the phrase `Head of the Commonwealth'.

Succession

     The title to the Crown derives partly from statute, partly from common
law rules of descent. The English Act of Settlement 1700 laid down that lineal
Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia are alone eligible to succeed. This
was affirmed by the Union of Scotland Act 1707. Subsequent Succession to the
Crown Acts have confirmed this declaration; and, although the succession is
not bound to continue in its present line, it can only be altered (under a
provision of the Statute of Westminster 1931) by common consent of all the
member nations of the Commonwealth of which the Queen is Sovereign.

     The sons of the Sovereign and their descendants have precedence over
daughters in succeeding to the throne. However, the daughters take precedence
over descendants of the Sovereign's brothers. When a daughter succeeds, she
becomes Queen Regnant and the Crown's powers are vested in her as though she
were king. While the consort of a king takes her husband's rank and style, the
constitution has never given any special rank or privileges to the husband of
a Queen Regnant, and any honour granted to him comes from the Crown as `the
fountain of honour'. In practice he fills an important role in the life of
the nation, as does the Duke of Edinburgh.

Accession

     The Sovereign succeeds to the throne as soon as his or her predecessor
dies and there is no interregnum. (This automatic succession is summed up in
the phrase, `the King is dead: long live the King!'). He or she is at once
proclaimed at an Accession Council to which all members of the Privy Council
are summoned. Members of the House of Lords (including those bishops of the
Church of England who sit in the House of Lords), the Lord Mayor and aldermen
and other leading citizens of the City of London, and the High Commissioners
in London of member nations of the Commonwealth are also invited to attend.
The duration of Parliament is not affected by the death of a monarch.

Coronation

     The Sovereign's coronation follows the accession, after an interval. It
does not affect the legal powers of the Crown (King Edward VIII, for instance,
was never crowned but reigned for nearly a year). It is a ceremony which has
remained essentially the same over a thousand years, even if details have
often been modified to conform to the customs of the time. It consists broadly
of recognition and acceptance of the new monarch by the people; the taking by
the monarch of an oath of royal duties; the celebration of Holy Communion
followed by anointing and crowning; and the rendering of homage by the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal. The service used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth
II in 1953 was derived from that used at the coronation of King Edgar at Bath
in 973.

     The coronation service, customarily conducted by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, takes place at Westminster Abbey in the presence of
representatives of the peers, the Commons and all the great public interests
in the United Kingdom, the Prime Ministers and leading citizens of the
Commonwealth countries, and representatives of other countries.

The Royal Family's Styles and Titles

     The first son (the Heir Apparent) born to a reigning monarch is by
birth Duke of Cornwall in the peerage of England, and Duke of Rothesay, Earl
of Carrick and Baron of Renfrew in the peerage of Scotland; he is also Lord
of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward, or Seneschal, of Scotland.
The titles `Prince of Wales' and `Earl of Chester' are created in each case,
but have usually though not invariably been conferred on the Sovereign's
eldest son; they were conferred on Prince Charles, the present heir, in 1958.

     There is no style for an Heir or Heiress Presumptive (that is, the Prince
or Princess who would succeed to the throne if the Sovereign had no son). It
is usual for a Prince in that position to possess a royal dukedom. However, an
Heiress Presumptive has no claim to the Duchy of Cornwall, nor can she become
Princess of Wales.

     The title of `Royal Highness' is accorded by Letters Patent to all the
monarch's children, the children of the monarch's sons, and the eldest living
son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. The title is enjoyed by the
wives of the Royal Highnesses.

     Under the Royal Marriages Act 1772 there are restrictions upon the right
of descendants of King George II to marry without the monarch's consent.
Until the age of 25 the consent is necessary (except in the case of the
children of princesses who have married into foreign families), but after that
age a marriage can take place without the consent after a year's notice to the
Privy Council, unless Parliament expressly disapproves.

The House of Windsor

     Until 1917, the royal family belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and
Gotha. In the circumstances of the first world war (1914-18), however, it was
considered appropriate for the King to adopt an English rather than a German
name. He therefore adopted by proclamation the name of Windsor for Queen
Victoria's descendants in the male line. In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II declared
that she and her children should be known as the House and Family of Windsor,
and that her descendants, other than female descendants who married and their
descendants, should bear the name of Windsor. In 1960 the Queen declared that
while she and her children would continue to be known as the House and Family
of Windsor, her descendants, other than those entitled to the style and title
of Royal Highness and Prince or Princess and females who married and their
children, should bear the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.

Regency and Counsellors of State

     Provision has been made by statute for a regent to be appointed to
perform the royal functions should the monarch be totally incapacitated,
unavailable, or under 18 on succeeding to the throne. The declaration on the
monarch's incapacity or unavailability has to be made by his or her consort,
the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief
Justice and the Master of the Rolls (at least three must make the
declaration). The regency continues until a declaration removing the
impediment is made. A regent may exercise all the powers of a monarch except
that he or she cannot assent to a Bill changing the order of succession to the
throne or repealing the legislation securing the Scottish religion and church.
At present the regent would be the Prince of Wales, then those in succession
to the throne who are of age.

     In the case of the Queen's partial incapacity or absence for more than a
few days, she may appoint Counsellors of State by Letters Patent, and delegate
to them certain functions in the United Kingdom, dependencies, and certain
other territories. (Commonwealth matters go direct to the Queen, wherever she
may be.) Counsellors of State, of whom any two may deal with the routine
signing of documents, cannot, for instance, dissolve Parliament (except on
the Queen's express instructions) nor create peers. Under the present
arrangements. Counsellors of State are appointed from among the Duke of
Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, and the four adults next in succession.

The Queen's Representatives

     In the Channel Islands, and in the Isle of Man, which are not part of the
United Kingdom, but have a special relationship with it because of the
antiquity of their connection with the Crown, the Queen is represented by a
Lieutenant-Governor.

     In the other Commonwealth countries of which she is Sovereign (see
below), the Queen's representative is the Governor-General. He is appointed by
her on the advice of the ministers of the country concerned and is completely
independent of the British Government. In British dependencies the Queen is
normally represented by Governors (in some cases by Commissioners,
Administrators or Residents), who are responsible to the British Government
for the good government of the countries concerned.

     The Queen maintains direct contacts with the Governors-General and
through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Governors, with British
Ambassadors to foreign countries (who are accredited from the Queen to the
head of State of the country concerned), and with the British High
Commissioners in independent Commonwealth countries.

The Monarchy and the Commonwealth

     Queen Elizabeth II is Queen not only of the United Kingdom and its
dependencies but also of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. Of the other members of the Commonwealth,
Bangladesh, Botswana, Cyprus, Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India,
Kenya, Kiribati, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Nauru, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu,
Zambia and Zimbabwe are republics, with a president as head of State; Lesotho,
Malaysia, Swaziland and Tonga are monarchies; Brunei is a sultanate; and
Western Samoa has as its elected head of State a Paramount Chief.

Functions of the Monarch

     The terms `the Sovereign' (or `Monarch') and `the Crown', although
related, are quite distinct. The Sovereign is the person on whom the
Crown is constitutionally conferred, while the Crown (which represents both
the Sovereign and the Government) is the symbol of supreme executive
power. The Crown is vested in the Queen but in general its functions are
exercised by ministers responsible to Parliament. The United Kingdom is
governed by Her Majesty's Government in the name of the Queen. There are,
however, many important acts of government which still require the
participation of the Queen.

     The Queen summons, prorogues (discontinues until the next session
without dissolving) and dissolves Parliament. Normally she opens the new
session with a speech from the throne outlining her Government's programme.
When she is unable to be present, the Queen's speech is read by the Lord
Chancellor. Before a Bill which has passed all its stages in both Houses
of Parliament becomes a legal enactment, it must receive the Royal Assent,
which is announced to both Houses. The Queen presides over meetings of
the Privy Council at which, among other things, Orders in Council made
under the royal prerogative (see below) or under statute are approved.

     As the `fountain of justice', the Queen can, on ministerial advice,
pardon or show mercy to those convicted of crimes. All criminal prosecutions
on indictment are brought in the name of the Crown. In law the Queen as a
private person can do no wrong, nor, being immune from civil or criminal
proceedings, can she be sued in courts of law. This personal immunity, which
does not extend to other members of the royal family, was expressly retained
in the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, which for the first time allowed the
Crown (in effect, a government department or minister) to be sued directly in
civil proceedings.

     As the `fountain of honour', the Queen confers peerages, knighthoods and
other honours (on the recommendation of the Prime Minister who usually seeks
the views of others). She makes appointments to many important state offices,
on the advice of the Prime Minister or, in some cases, the appropriate Cabinet
Minister. She appoints and dismisses, for instance, government ministers,
judges (the dismissal of judges is regulated by statute), members of the
diplomatic corps and colonial officials. As Commander-in-Chief of the armed
services she appoints officers, and as Supreme Governor of the established
Church of England she makes appointments to its bishoprics and some other
senior offices.

     In international affairs, the Queen (to whom foreign diplomatic
representatives in London present their credentials) has the power to
conclude treaties, to declare war and to make peace, to recognise foreign
states and governments, and to annexe and cede territory.

The Royal Prerogative

     These and similar functions involve exercising the royal
prerogative - broadly speaking, the collection of residual powers left in
the hands of the Crown. Present-day prerogative rights and duties of the
Crown, in many cases ill-defined, are remnants of immunities and powers
possessed by medieval kings, both as chief feudal lords and as heads of the
State. Nowadays the prerogative mainly comprises executive government powers,
the exercise of which is controlled by constitutional conventions.

     With rare exceptions (as in the appointment of the Prime Minister), acts
involving the royal prerogative are nowadays performed by ministers who are
responsible to Parliament and can be questioned about a particular policy.
It is not necessary to have Parliament's authority to exercise these powers,
although Parliament has the power to restrict or abolish a prerogative right.
The Crown is not bound by an Act of Parliament in the absence of any express
words to the contrary.

     The most common ways in which the royal will can be constitutionally
expressed are: by Order in Council made `by and with the advice of the Privy
Council'; by Order, Commission or Warrant signed personally by the Queen
and generally bearing the signature of at least one responsible Secretary
of State; or by Proclamation, Writs, Letters Patent, or other documents
under the Great Seal affixed by the Lord Chancellor in obedience to a
Royal Warrant countersigned by a Secretary of State.

Relations with the Prime Minister and Government

     An important function of the Sovereign is appointing the Prime Minister.
By convention the Sovereign invites the leader of the party which commands a
majority in the House of Commons to form a government. If no party has a
majority, or if the party having a majority has no recognised leader, the
Queen has the duty of selecting a Prime Minister. In such circumstances she
would be free to consult anyone she wished.

     Ministerial responsibility for the exercise of powers by the Crown does
not detract from the importance of the participation of the Sovereign in the
smooth working of government, for the Queen must be informed and consulted on
every aspect of the national life to the widest possible extent, and is free
to put forward her own views in private for the consideration of her
ministers. The Sovereign has, in the words of Walter Bagehot writing in
1867, `the right to be consulted, the right to encourage' and `the right to
warn'.

     The Queen's closest official contacts are with the Prime Minister (who
has an audience of the Queen on average once a week when the Queen is in
London), and, through him or her, with the Cabinet. She sees other ministers
as well, generally to discuss the affairs of their departments, and sees all
Cabinet papers, the Cabinet agenda in advance, and the minutes of the
meetings of the Cabinet and of its committees. She may discuss memoranda
with the ministers responsible and, if necessary, seek further information
on any topic from departments through her Private Secretary (see p 18). The
Queen receives copies of all important Foreign and Commonwealth Office
telegrams and dispatches. She also receives a daily summary of parliamentary
proceedings prepared for her by a member of the Government (the
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household - see p 17).

     The Queen is ultimately responsible for dissolving Parliament, normally
done at the request of the Prime Minister.

The Queen's Public Functions

     As the inheritor of a monarchical tradition which has endured for over a
thousand years, the Queen is not just the head of State, but the living symbol
of national unity. She provides the natural focus for popular loyalty.
Ceremonial has always been associated with British kings and queens and, in
spite of the changed outlook of both the Sovereign and the people, many
traditional ceremonies and customs are retained. Royal marriages and funerals
are still marked by impressive ceremonial; and the birthday of the Sovereign
is officially celebrated every June by Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards
Parade. Royal processions add significance to such occasions as the opening
of Parliament, when the Queen drives in state from Buckingham Palace to
Westminster, and the arrival of visiting heads of State.

     Royal ceremonial arouses wide popular interest and is a vital factor in
the relations between Sovereign and people. The relationship is fostered by
many means, including modern mass communications media, which have played an
important part in bringing the Queen closer to her subjects. Films like The
Royal Family and Royal Heritage have been seen by many millions of television
viewers throughout the world, and several hundred million people watched the
marriages of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981 and of the Duke and
Duchess of York in 1986. Hundreds of royal visits to various parts of the
country for public functions keep the royal family in close touch with new
developments. These often involve visits lasting more than one day, and
sometimes centre on an international or national event such as the Royal
International Agricultural Show or more usually an event of local importance
like the opening of a new bridge or hospital. There are also royal film,
variety and concert performances in aid of charity, and visits to schools,
universities, hospitals and factories. The Queen also attends the `Derby' at
Epsom (one of the classic `flat' horse-races) and the summer race meeting at
Ascot.

     In addition to being head of the three armed services, the Queen
holds several honorary appointments in them. Through the regular reports
made to her personally by the Service Chiefs of Staff, which cover all
important developments and matters of interest, as well as her own
regular visits to units and those by other members of the royal family,
she keeps in close touch with the work of the armed forces.

     The Queen holds about 14 investitures a year at which she bestows the
awards conferred on both civilians and members of the armed forces. She
presents annually some 3,000 orders, decorations and medals. Investitures are
also conducted by the Queen on her visits to other Commonwealth countries.
Some 30,000 people from all sections of the community (including visitors from
overseas) attend royal garden parties each year. Three are held at Buckingham
Palace, one at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, and there is often a special party in
each place for an organisation such as the Royal British Legion or the
National Federation of Women's Institutes. Regular luncheon parties held by
the Queen are attended by people distinguished in widely different spheres.
Other regular public occasions include services of the Order of the Garter,
the Order of the Thistle and other Orders, the Remembrance Day ceremony at the
Cenotaph in Whitehall and various services at St. Paul's Cathedral and
Westminster Abbey. The Queen presents the Maundy money at Westminster Abbey or
in one of the other cathedrals or abbeys in the country.

     One of the most important duties performed by the Sovereign is to
act as host to the heads of State of Commonwealth and other countries when
they visit the United Kingdom. When a State visit is involved, guests stay at
Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Their
entertainment includes banquets, receptions, sometimes a special ballet or
opera performance and visits to places of particular interest throughout
the country. On the many other occasions when heads of State visit the
United Kingdom, either privately or for official purposes, they are nearly
always entertained or received by the Queen. Luncheons are frequently held
for other distinguished visitors from overseas.

     The overseas tours which the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh make
together - nowadays one of their most important functions - fall into
three board categories. There are visits to one or more of Her Majesty's
16 other Realms; there are visits to other Commonwealth countries, made
at the invitation of the host government; and there are State visits to
countries outside the Commonwealth at the invitation of a foreign head of
State and accepted on the advice of the British Government. No previous
Sovereign has undertaken overseas visits on such a scale. The Duke of
Edinburgh has also visited many countries overseas by himself, both as the
Queen's representative and in his own right.

     It is customary at Christmas for the Queen to speak on radio and
television to all the people of the Commonwealth as their head.

Other Members of the Royal Family

     The contribution by other members of the royal family in supplementing
the Queen's public functions is of the greatest importance. They too have a
heavy schedule of official appearances, both national and international. They
help to entertain visiting heads of State and pay official visits overseas,
occasionally representing the Queen, though usually in their own right in
connection with an organisation or a cause with which they are associated.
They serve as patrons or presidents of many of the most prominent institutions
and charities in Britain and are constantly making public appearances. The
Prince and Princess of Wales have undertaken highly successful tours of
many countries, including since 1986 Australia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia,
Spain, Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany, while the Princess Royal
has carried out many notable visits to developing countries in connection
with the relief and medical work being undertaken by the Save the Children
Fund.