The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state but does not rule. Parliament is sovereign. King Charles III became monarch on 8 September 2022 on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years — the longest of any British monarch.
The monarch's formal role
- Opening and closing each session of Parliament.
- Giving Royal Assent to bills passed by Parliament.
- Appointing the Prime Minister (by convention, the leader of the party that wins the general election).
- Acting as head of the Armed Forces.
- Acting as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
- Receiving foreign ambassadors and making state visits abroad.
In every one of these roles the monarch acts on the advice of ministers. The phrase often used is that the monarch "reigns but does not rule".
Further reading: a related editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.
Succession to the throne
The line of succession was changed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 so that the eldest child of the monarch becomes heir regardless of sex. The current heir apparent is William, Prince of Wales, followed by his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Commonwealth
The King is also head of state in 14 other countries known as the Commonwealth realms — including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica — and is head of the wider Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries with about 2.5 billion people. Most members are former British colonies, but recent additions such as Rwanda and Mozambique have no historical link to Britain.
The Royal Family in public life
Members of the Royal Family undertake thousands of public engagements each year, supporting charities, the armed forces, sport and cultural life. The handbook reminds candidates that the monarchy is widely supported but that respectful debate about its role is part of British democracy.
Keep going
- Read the full study notes for Government & Law.
- Try a practice test on this chapter.
- Sit a full 24-question timed mock.
- Browse our complete topic explainer library.