Monarchy

What is the Monarchy?

Monarchy is rule by an individual who is royal, and the system is usually hereditary. The term monarchy derives from the Greek, monos arkhein, meaning 'one ruler'.

The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is the Sovereign and Head of State of the UK and its overseas territories. The monarch, referred to in the abstract as 'The Crown', is the source of all legislative and executive power.

Since Henry VIII, the British monarch is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

The British monarch is also the Head of the Commonwealth, and the head of state in 16 of the 54 Commonwealth member countries.

The British political system is a 'constitutional monarchy': the supreme power held by the monarch is largely ceremonial and formal, with actual political power exercised by others.

Background

Queen Elizabeth II can trace her lineage back to King Egbert, who united England in 829. The only interruption to the institution of the Monarchy was its brief abolition from 1649 to 1660, following the execution of Charles I and the rules of Oliver Cromwell and his son, Richard.

The crowns of England and Scotland were brought together on the accession of James VI of Scotland as James I of England in 1603. The 1707 Act of Union joined the countries as the Kingdom of Great Britain, while the 1801 Act of Union joined this with the Kingdom of Ireland, to create the United Kingdom.

Over the last thousand years, political power in Britain has passed from the Monarch, who reigned and ruled by virtue of the 'Divine Rights of Kings', to Parliament. Parliament began as a body of leading nobles and clergy that the Monarch consulted in the exercise of power, which gradually assumed more and more power at the expense of the Monarch - particularly during the upheavals of the 17th Century, which culminated in the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1689. The 1701 Act of Settlement, critically, passed the power to decide on succession to the throne to Parliament.

By the beginning of the 20th Century, power had passed almost entirely to Parliament. However, Parliament and the Government exercise their powers under 'Royal Prerogative': on behalf of the Monarch and through powers still formally possessed by the Monarch.

Controversies

The argument that the UK should abolish the Monarchy and become a republic remains at the fringes of mainstream political debate, partly because there is no alternative able to attract significant popular support. The political role of the Monarchy is of little interest to much of the public, which largely regards the Royal Family as celebrities.

However, the future shape of the Monarchy and the conduct of the Royal Family are highly controversial and widely-discussed topics.

The succession is a particular issue of concern. At the institutional level, campaigns are underway to remove the principle of male primogeniture and the specific injunctions against Roman Catholics ascending to the throne.

The Monarchy as an institution retains public support and the Queen herself is perceived largely as above criticism, despite the standing of the Royal Family being regarded to have suffered considerably in the last 20 years.

The public cost of the Monarchy is also subject to widespread debate, as is the taxation of Royal Income, and symbolic issues about the inequality of the Royals and the citizens of the UK (who are formally the Monarch's 'subjects').

Statistics

From 1714 through to 1837, there were only five monarchs, one of whom, George III, remains the longest reigning king in British History.
Queen Victoria acceeded to the throne at the age of 18 following the death of William IV in 1837. She reigned for 63 years and seven months, longer than any other British monarch.
The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was born on 21st April 1926. Her coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953.

Source: British Monarchy official website - 2010

Quotes

"It has been a pretty remarkable fifty years by any standards. There have been ups and downs, but anyone who can remember what things were like after those six long years of war, appreciates what immense changes have been achieved since then.
"Not everyone has been able to benefit from the growth of wealth and prosperity but it has not been for lack of political will. I think we can look back with measured pride on the history of the last fifty years."

From the Queen's Golden Jubilee speech - 4th June 2002