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The powers of the UK monarchy

Agence France-Presse 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="People in the Mall watching Her Majesty, The Queen and The Prince of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace shown on a big screen during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Britain" s="" Queen="" Elizabeth="" in="" June="" Tolga="" EPA-EFE="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/09/09/20220602-britain-queen-platinum-epa.jpg"/><figcaption>People in the Mall watching Her Majesty, The Queen and The Prince of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace shown on a big screen during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Britain&#x27;s Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Britain, June 2, 2022. <em>Tolga Akmen, EPA-EFE/File </em></figcaption></figure></div><p> <br/>LONDON — The British monarch is mainly a ceremonial figurehead and is generally expected not to intervene in political matters. But as head of state, they have retained some constitutional powers.</p><div><strong>Role in parliament </strong></div><p>Parliament is the highest legislative authority in the United Kingdom and comprises the House of Commons, House of Lords and the Crown -- another word for the monarchy.</p><p>The Crown is the oldest part of Britain&#x27;s system of government, but its powers have withered away over time, and are now broadly ritualistic. </p><div><strong> Appointing a government </strong></div><p>The day after a general election, the monarch invites the leader of the party that won the most seats in the House of Commons to become prime minister and form a government.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/09/05/22/liz-truss-to-be-next-british-prime-minister">Liz Truss to be the next British prime minister</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/09/22/in-pictures-liz-trusss-first-moments-at-no10-as-pm">IN PICTURES: Liz Truss’s first moments at No.10 as PM</a></li></ul><div><strong>Opening and dissolving parliament </strong></div><p>The monarch opens parliament every year at the tradition-heavy State Opening, and reads out the government&#x27;s plans for the next 12 months. </p><p>The event usually begins with the monarch&#x27;s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.</p><p>Wearing the Imperial State Crown, the monarch proceeds to the House of Lords.</p><p>An official known as Black Rod is sent to summon the Commons, and the door is shut in his or her face to symbolize its independence from the monarchy. </p><p>The Crown also formally dissolves parliament before a general election.</p><div><strong>Royal Assent </strong></div><p>After a bill has been approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it is sent to the monarch to approve and turn into a law. </p><p>Although the monarch could technically refuse, the practice is, in reality, a rubber-stamping exercise.</p><p>The most recent monarch to refuse assent was queen Anne, in 1708.</p><div><strong> Prime ministerial confidant </strong></div><p>Queen Elizabeth II held weekly meetings with all of her prime ministers, in which they would tell her of their plans and concerns.</p><p>&quot;They tell me what is going on or if they have any problems, and sometimes I can help in some way as well,&quot; she said in a 1992 documentary.</p><p>&quot;They know I can be impartial and it is rather nice to feel one is a sponge.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/09/09/22/queen-elizabeth-ii-dies-at-96">Queen Elizabeth II dies, Charles III succeeds</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/09/22/queen-elizabeth-ii-a-beacon-of-stability-for-7-decades">Elizabeth II: Britain&#x27;s longest-ruling monarch weathered war and crisis</a></li>	<li><a href="Elizabeth II: Britain" s="" longest-ruling="" monarch="" weathered="" war="" and="">IN PHOTOS: Queen Elizabeth II, 70 years on the throne</a></li></ul><div><strong>Creating lords and knights </strong></div><p>The monarch has the power to appoint lords to sit in parliament, but this is only exercised on the advice of government ministers.</p><p>The monarch also personally confers knighthoods, which are given to those who have made a notable contribution to British society, in any walk of life. </p><p>The government provides the monarch with a list of nominees each year for approval for public honors.</p><div><strong>Constitutional crises </strong></div><p>The monarch is allowed to exercise their prerogative powers &quot;in grave constitutional crisis&quot; when they are permitted to go against ministerial advice, although it has never happened in modern times.</p><div><strong>Head of church </strong></div><p>As supreme governor of the Church of England, Britain&#x27;s monarch has the power to appoint bishops and archbishops, but again this is exercised only on the advice of a Church Commission.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2221270" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The British monarch is mainly a ceremonial figurehead and is generally expected not to intervene in political matters.