## Learning Outcomes

- Explain what a constitutional monarchy means in the UK
- Identify the monarch’s main roles in forming a government and working with the Prime Minister
- Recall the monarch’s key parliamentary and legal functions, including Royal Assent
- Recognise the monarch’s ceremonial and diplomatic duties, including the State Opening of Parliament
- Understand why the monarch is expected to be politically neutral

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand the role of the monarch in the UK’s constitutional system, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that the UK is a parliamentary democracy and the monarch is the head of state
- Explain what “constitutional monarchy” means (the monarch does not run the government day to day)
- Identify how the monarch appoints the Prime Minister after a General Election (the person who can command a majority in the House of Commons)
- Know the monarch’s role in Parliament, including the State Opening and Royal Assent
- Understand the monarch’s weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the idea of advising, warning and encouraging
- Recognise the monarch’s ceremonial, diplomatic and national roles, including representing the UK abroad and providing continuity

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What does it mean when the UK is described as a “constitutional monarchy”?
2. Who does the monarch invite to become Prime Minister after a General Election?
3. What is the State Opening of Parliament, and what happens during it?
4. What is Royal Assent, and why does it matter in the law-making process?
5. What is the purpose of the monarch’s regular meetings with the Prime Minister?

## Introduction

The UK is a parliamentary democracy, with a monarch as head of state. For the Life in the UK Test you need to know what the monarch does, and (just as importantly) what the monarch does **not** do.

The UK has a constitutional monarchy. This means the monarch has formal constitutional duties and national ceremonies, but the elected government—led by the Prime Minister—makes political decisions and runs the country.

> **Key Term: constitutional monarchy**
> A system in which the monarch is head of state, but their powers are limited by law and by constitutional conventions, and government is carried out by elected ministers.

### Head of state vs head of government

In the UK, the monarch is **head of state**. The Prime Minister is **head of government**. This distinction helps you answer many test questions quickly: the monarch represents the country and performs formal constitutional acts, while ministers decide policy and run departments.

> **Key Term: head of state**
> The official leader who represents the country and performs formal constitutional duties (in the UK, the monarch).
>
> **Test Tip:** If a question asks who “runs the country” or “decides government policy”, the answer is the Prime Minister and cabinet, not the monarch. If it asks who “represents the UK” or carries out formal national duties, it is the monarch.

### Appointing the government and the Prime Minister

A central constitutional job of the monarch is to appoint the government after a General Election. In practice, the monarch invites the person most likely to be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons to become Prime Minister. Normally, this is the leader of the political party with the largest number of MPs, or the leader of a coalition.

This role is important, but it is also tightly controlled by convention. The monarch does **not** pick a Prime Minister based on personal preference. The choice follows the election result and who can control a majority in the House of Commons.

> **Key Term: Prime Minister (PM)**
> The head of government in the UK, usually the leader of the political party (or coalition) that can command a majority in the House of Commons.

#### What happens if there is no clear winner?

Sometimes no party wins a majority of MPs. Parties may then negotiate to form a coalition or agreement to support a government. The monarch stays outside party politics and waits until it is clear who can form a government. The key point for the test is the principle: the monarch appoints the person who is most likely to command a majority in the Commons.

> **Test Tip:** When you see wording like “largest party”, “majority of MPs”, “coalition”, or “confidence of the House of Commons”, link it to the rule for who becomes Prime Minister.

In very rare situations, such as a hung Parliament where negotiations take time, the outgoing Prime Minister usually remains in office in a caretaker capacity until it is clear who can form a stable government. This helps ensure that there is always someone able to advise the monarch and that government work continues, even while political parties are still discussing arrangements.

### The monarch’s meetings with the Prime Minister

The monarch and the Prime Minister meet regularly (traditionally weekly when Parliament is sitting). These meetings are private. The monarch can advise, warn and encourage, but does not make government policy.

This is one way the monarch supports stable government without taking sides. The monarch is expected to be politically neutral, even if they have long experience across many governments.

### The monarch’s role in Parliament

Although Parliament debates and votes on laws, the UK’s Parliament is formally connected to the Crown. You will often see the phrase that laws are made “in the name of” the monarch.

Two key parliamentary duties are regularly tested: the State Opening of Parliament and Royal Assent.

> **Key Term: Parliament**
> The UK’s law-making body, made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch.

#### State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech

Each year there is a formal ceremony to mark the start of a new parliamentary session. The monarch opens Parliament in person (or a representative may do so if necessary). During this event, the monarch reads the King’s Speech (Queen’s Speech when the monarch is female).

The speech sets out the government’s plans for the coming year, including proposed laws. Even though the monarch reads it, it is written by the government.

> **Key Term: State Opening of Parliament**
> The annual ceremony that begins a new session of Parliament, during which the monarch delivers the King’s Speech outlining the government’s programme.

The ceremony itself includes many traditional elements, such as a procession to the Palace of Westminster and the monarch wearing ceremonial robes and a crown. These traditions highlight the historic link between the Crown and Parliament, while making clear that the modern government’s programme comes from elected ministers, not from the monarch personally.

#### Royal Assent

A Bill must pass through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. After it has passed, it becomes an Act of Parliament only once the monarch gives Royal Assent. In modern practice this is a formal step carried out according to constitutional convention.

For the test, remember the basic sequence: Parliament passes a Bill, then the monarch gives Royal Assent, and the Bill becomes law as an Act of Parliament.

> **Key Term: Royal Assent**
> The formal agreement by the monarch that turns a Bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament.

Royal Assent is now almost always given; it would be a major constitutional crisis if a monarch refused. This shows how, in practice, the monarch’s role is to confirm the democratic decision made by Parliament, not to overrule it.

### Ceremonial and diplomatic duties

The monarch has major ceremonial and representative duties. These do not involve making policy, but they matter for how the UK is represented at home and abroad.

Key examples you should know:

- The monarch represents the UK to the rest of the world.
- The monarch receives foreign ambassadors and high commissioners.
- The monarch hosts visiting heads of state.
- The monarch makes state visits overseas to support diplomatic and economic relationships.

These duties are part of why the monarch is seen as a symbol of national identity and continuity.

The monarch also takes part in important national ceremonies, such as Remembrance Sunday services, major anniversaries, and national celebrations. On these occasions, the monarch’s presence can help bring different parts of the UK together and provide a non‑political focus at times of both celebration and commemoration.

### Stability, continuity, and national identity

Governments can change quickly: a Prime Minister may resign, lose an election, or be replaced by their party. The monarch remains in office for many years. This provides continuity in the head of state, and can act as a focus for national identity and pride.

For example, Queen Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952, and in 2012 she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne). Long reigns like this are often used as examples of continuity.

The monarchy also links the present to the past. Many state occasions use historic buildings, uniforms and ceremonies that have developed over centuries. While their political meaning has changed, these traditions help people feel that the UK’s democratic institutions are rooted in a long and evolving history, rather than being something entirely new or temporary.

### The national anthem and citizenship loyalty

The UK national anthem is “God Save the King” (or “God Save the Queen” when the monarch is female). It is played at important national events and at occasions attended by the monarch or the Royal Family.

At a citizenship ceremony, new citizens swear (or affirm) loyalty to the monarch, including “her/his heirs and successors, according to law”. This links citizenship to the constitutional position of the monarch as head of state.

> **Key Term: national anthem**
> The song used at major national occasions; in the UK this is “God Save the King/Queen”.

By promising loyalty “according to law”, new citizens are not giving the monarch unlimited power. Instead, they are recognising the monarch’s role within the UK’s constitutional system, where powers are defined and limited by laws and democratic institutions.

### Limits on the monarch’s power

A key fact for the Life in the UK Test is that the monarch does not govern personally. The UK’s system developed over centuries so that political power is exercised through elected representatives and ministers.

In practical terms:

- The Prime Minister and cabinet decide government policies.
- Parliament debates and passes laws.
- The courts apply the law.
- The monarch’s actions in government are carried out within legal rules and constitutional conventions.

So, while the monarch has important formal roles—appointing a Prime Minister, opening Parliament, and giving Royal Assent—the monarch is expected to act within the constitutional system and remain neutral.

This neutrality means that the monarch does not publicly support political parties or take sides in elections or party debates. The monarch’s speeches on public occasions are carefully written, often by the government, to avoid party‑political statements. In this way, the monarch can serve all citizens, regardless of their political views, and help maintain trust in the stability of the constitutional system.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- The UK is a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state
- The UK is a constitutional monarchy: the monarch does not run the country day to day
- The monarch appoints the Prime Minister, normally the leader who can command a House of Commons majority
- The monarch meets the Prime Minister regularly and can advise, warn and encourage
- The monarch opens Parliament each year at the State Opening and delivers the King’s Speech outlining the government’s plans
- A Bill becomes an Act of Parliament after the monarch gives Royal Assent
- The monarch represents the UK internationally by receiving ambassadors and making state visits
- The monarch provides continuity and a focus for national identity as governments change
- The UK national anthem is “God Save the King/Queen”
- New citizens swear or affirm allegiance to the monarch at citizenship ceremonies

## Key Terms and Concepts

- constitutional monarchy
- head of state
- Prime Minister (PM)
- Parliament
- State Opening of Parliament
- Royal Assent
- national anthem


Constitution and the monarchy - Role of the Monarch