What does the Queen do?

Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch, at the moment Queen Elizabeth II, is the head of state. The Queen is also the head of the judiciary (all the judges) and of the Church of England, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Her face is on all British bank notes, coins and postage stamps.

The Queen´s constitutional role is mainly symbolic. True power lies with the Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet. When the Queen formally opens Parliament every autumn, the speech she makes from the throne, giving details of the Government´s future plans, is written for her by politicians. Nothing becomes British law without the monarch´s signature, but the Queen would never refuse to sign a bill which has been passed by Parliament. Officially the Queen appoints the Prime Minister, but traditionally she always asks the leader of the party with a majority in the House of Commons.

The most important function of the Queen is ceremonial. On great occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament, she is driven through the streets in a golden carriage, guarded by soldiers. She gives a state banquet, usually in her home at Buckingham Palace, when foreign monarchs or heads of state visit Britain. Soldiers dressed in eighteenth-century uniforms help her to welcome them.

The Queen is head of the Commonwealth (a group of former and present-day British colonies). As head of the Commonwealth, she meets and entertains the prime ministers of the member states.

Since Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, she has represented Britain on visits to most parts of the world. Prime Ministers come and go, but she carries on above politics, a symbol of British traditions.

a  Who is the head of state in your country?

b  Find out which countries in Europe have a monarchy.

c  Make a list of three things you think a king or queen should do.

Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain. 21st Century Edition, Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 16