The Monarchy of the United Kingdom

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

We can wonder, that in the modern We can wonder, that in the modern world of XXI century, with many world of XXI century, with many social social changes and rapid development of changes and rapid development of sciencescience, with the expansion of , with the expansion of democratic European Communitydemocratic European Community, with , with travels to the cosmos space and in travels to the cosmos space and in period of technological revolutions, is period of technological revolutions, is still existing such old and traditional still existing such old and traditional institution – monarchy. institution – monarchy.

Modernity and tradition in Great Britain Modernity and tradition in Great Britain are cooperating well. London is witness are cooperating well. London is witness of these cohabitation.of these cohabitation.

Modern London

Modernity and tradition in London

The QueenThe Queen

IIn Great Britain, Monarchy is the oldest form of n Great Britain, Monarchy is the oldest form of government, which appeared in year 829, when government, which appeared in year 829, when king Egbert was consolidating England. king Egbert was consolidating England.

The present monarch, 83 years oldThe present monarch, 83 years old Elizabeth II, Elizabeth II, has reigned since 1952, at the age of 25. The has reigned since 1952, at the age of 25. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Queen is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and has four children and eight Edinburgh and has four children and eight grandchildrengrandchildren . .

Her Majesty Elisabeth II

The Queen is Head of State in the United The Queen is Head of State in the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms. Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms. The Queen is Head of the Armed Forces.The Queen is Head of the Armed Forces.

The Sovereign must be protestant. Only The Sovereign must be protestant. Only individuals who are individuals who are protestantsprotestants may inherit may inherit the the Crown. Crown. Catholics are prohibited from succeeding. Catholics are prohibited from succeeding. Upon the death of the Sovereign, his or her heir Upon the death of the Sovereign, his or her heir immediately and automatically succeeds (hence immediately and automatically succeeds (hence the phrasethe phrase:: „„ The King is dead. Long live the King!The King is dead. Long live the King!")")

The Queen must remain politically neutral. The Queen must remain politically neutral. Her Majesty and her family never vote or stand Her Majesty and her family never vote or stand for election to any position, political or otherwise. for election to any position, political or otherwise. This enables them to provide continuity and focus This enables them to provide continuity and focus for national unity.for national unity.

The British monarchyThe British monarchy

The British monarchy is a constitutional monarchy. This means The British monarchy is a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass that, while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament. The monarch may express legislation resides with an elected Parliament. The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the decisions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. decisions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

But The Queen does have important ceremonial and formal roles But The Queen does have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the Government of the UK.in relation to the Government of the UK.

The formal phrase 'Queen in Parliament' is used to describe the The formal phrase 'Queen in Parliament' is used to describe the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Queen's duties include opening each and the House of Commons. The Queen's duties include opening each new session of Parliament, dissolving Parliament before a general new session of Parliament, dissolving Parliament before a general election, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy election, and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.Council.The Queen also has a close relationship with the Prime Minister, retaining The Queen also has a close relationship with the Prime Minister, retaining the right to appoint and meet with him or her on a regular basis.the right to appoint and meet with him or her on a regular basis.

In addition to playing a specific role in the UK Parliament based In addition to playing a specific role in the UK Parliament based in London, The Queen has formal roles with relation to the devolved in London, The Queen has formal roles with relation to the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Queen has many different official, ceremonial The Queen has many different official, ceremonial and representational duties every day. Some are and representational duties every day. Some are public duties, such as ceremonies, receptions and public duties, such as ceremonies, receptions and visits within the United Kingdom or abroad. visits within the United Kingdom or abroad.

The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service.service.

In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by members of their immediate family. members of their immediate family.

The monarch appears onThe monarch appears on postage stamps, coins postage stamps, coins, and , and banknotesbanknotes. .

Buckingham Palace

The Sovereign's official residence in London is Buckingham Palace. Another official residence is Windsor Palace. Even when The Queen is away from London, in residence at Balmoral or Sandringham, she receives official papers nearly every day and remains fully briefed on matters affecting her realms.Throughout the centuries, Britain's kings and queens have built or bought palaces to serve as family homes, workplaces and as centres of government. Some of these are still being used today as official Royal residences and many can be visited by the general public. Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.At 36.6m long, 18m wide and 13.5m high, the Ballroom is the largest multi-purpose room in Buckingham Palace. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.

The Royal HouseholdThe Royal Household

• The Royal Household aims to provide The Royal Household aims to provide exceptional support and advice to exceptional support and advice to The Queen, enabling her to serve the The Queen, enabling her to serve the nation and its people. It employs nation and its people. It employs approximately 1,200 staff across a approximately 1,200 staff across a wide range of professions, including wide range of professions, including catering, housekeeping, catering, housekeeping, accountancy, secretarial, media accountancy, secretarial, media relations, human resources, art relations, human resources, art curatorship and strategic plannincuratorship and strategic plannings.gs.

The Lord Chamberlain is the senior official of the Royal Household

• His role is to oversee the conduct and general His role is to oversee the conduct and general business of the Royal Household and to be a source business of the Royal Household and to be a source and focal point for important matters which have and focal point for important matters which have implications for the Household as a whole. His role is implications for the Household as a whole. His role is non-executive and the post is part-time.non-executive and the post is part-time.

• The Lord Chamberlain’s Office is responsible for The Lord Chamberlain’s Office is responsible for organising those elements of The Queen's organising those elements of The Queen's programme that involve ceremonial activity.programme that involve ceremonial activity.

• Despite its name, the Lord Chamberlain’s Office is Despite its name, the Lord Chamberlain’s Office is as independent of the Lord Chamberlain as the as independent of the Lord Chamberlain as the other Departments. other Departments. It is headed by the Comptroller.It is headed by the Comptroller.

Queen and charitiesQueen and charities

• An important part of the work of The Queen is to An important part of the work of The Queen is to support and encourage public and voluntary service.support and encourage public and voluntary service.

• One of the ways in which Her Majesty does this is One of the ways in which Her Majesty does this is through involvement with charities and other through involvement with charities and other organisations. The Queen has over 600 patronages. organisations. The Queen has over 600 patronages.

• These cover every area of the charity and voluntary These cover every area of the charity and voluntary sector, from opportunities for young people, to sector, from opportunities for young people, to preservation of wildlife and the environment.preservation of wildlife and the environment.

• Involvement with these organisations helps to Involvement with these organisations helps to recognise their achievements, and helps to recognise their achievements, and helps to recognise the contributions of many different recognise the contributions of many different sectors of public life. sectors of public life.

The Queen wealthThe Queen wealth

• The Queen wealth is estimated at $650 million in 2008. The Queen wealth is estimated at $650 million in 2008. Much of the sovereign's official expenses are financed from Much of the sovereign's official expenses are financed from public funds. Its why some people would like to make public funds. Its why some people would like to make reform and reduce costs of queen family. But today the reform and reduce costs of queen family. But today the Queen and family knows about, and they say .... that cost is Queen and family knows about, and they say .... that cost is only 0,66 pound per person!only 0,66 pound per person!

• At the end of the 70' England was going through a tough At the end of the 70' England was going through a tough economic crisis under government of prime minister Mrs economic crisis under government of prime minister Mrs Thatcher (1979) . The painful social situation generated Thatcher (1979) . The painful social situation generated violent political opponents, expressed in the birth of some violent political opponents, expressed in the birth of some cultural phenomena like punk (meaning : no value) cultural phenomena like punk (meaning : no value)

• The most famous representative musical band The most famous representative musical band was the Sex Pistols . In 1977 , they wrote a was the Sex Pistols . In 1977 , they wrote a worlwide succes: "God save the queen" , (the worlwide succes: "God save the queen" , (the British national anthem) a contreversial vision of British national anthem) a contreversial vision of the british monarchy . the british monarchy .

• But most of people keep on liking monarchy as But most of people keep on liking monarchy as symbol of unit of Great Britain, whatever the lack symbol of unit of Great Britain, whatever the lack of aristocratic behavior of its members today in of aristocratic behavior of its members today in regard to centuries of reign without weakness regard to centuries of reign without weakness

• Because Great Britain is a multi-cultural, multi-Because Great Britain is a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, made up of Christians, Muslims, faith society, made up of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and people of other faiths, we Hindus, Jews, Sikhs and people of other faiths, we can say, that all people of this mixed society have can say, that all people of this mixed society have common Quinn – Elisabeth II. common Quinn – Elisabeth II.