The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional monarchy.
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a king or queen acts as the Head of State. However, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament, not with the Monarch.
The monarch's title is "King" (male) or "Queen" (female). The current monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, ascended the throne on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.
In the uncodified Constitution of the United Kingdom, the Monarch (otherwise referred to as the Sovereign or "His/Her Majesty", abbreviated H. M. ) is the Head of State. Oaths of allegiance are made to the Queen and her lawful successors.
The Monarch takes little direct part in Government.
- Legislative power is exercised by the Queen - in - Parliament, by and with the advice and consent of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
- Executive power is exercised by Her Majesty's Government, which comprises Ministers, primarily the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, which is technically a committee of the Privy Council. They have the direction of the Armed Forces of the Crown, the Civil Service and other Crown Servants such as the Diplomatic and Secret Services (the Queen receives certain foreign intelligence reports before the Prime Minister does).
- Judicial power is vested in the Judiciary, who by constitution and statute have judicial independence of the Government.
- The Church of England, of which the Monarch is the head, has its own legislative, judicial and executive structures.