Editing Monarchy of the United Kingdom (section)

===Regency===
{{main|Regency Acts|Counsellor of State}}
The [[Regency Acts]] allow for regencies in the event of a monarch who is a minor or who is physically or mentally incapacitated. When a regency is necessary, the next qualified individual in the line of succession automatically becomes regent, unless they themselves are a minor or incapacitated. Special provisions were made for Queen Elizabeth II by the [[Regency Act 1953]], which stated that [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] (her husband) could act as regent in these circumstances.<ref name="regact53">{{Citation |title=Regency Act 1953 |url=http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?activeTextDocId=1121879 |publisher=Ministry of Justice |access-date=9 October 2008 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806021721/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/2-3/1/contents |url-status=live }}</ref>

During a temporary physical infirmity or an absence from the kingdom, the sovereign may temporarily delegate some of his or her functions to [[counsellors of state]], chosen from the monarch's spouse and the first four adults in the line of succession.<ref>{{Citation |title=Queen and Government: Counsellors of State |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/CounsellorsofState.aspx |publisher=Official website of the British Monarchy |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214443/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/CounsellorsofState.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The present counsellors of state are: [[Queen Camilla]]; [[William, Prince of Wales]]; [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex]]; [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York]]; [[Princess Beatrice]]; [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]]; and [[Anne, Princess Royal]].<ref>{{Citation|first=Victoria|last=Ward|title=Princess Beatrice 'to become counsellor of state' for King Charles III|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 September 2022|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/09/09/princess-beatrice-become-counsellor-state-king-charles-iii/|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=11 September 2022|archive-date=31 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031213811/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/09/09/princess-beatrice-become-counsellor-state-king-charles-iii/|url-status=live}}</ref> While still able to serve, the Duke of Sussex and Duke of York no longer carry out royal duties. With the accession of Charles III and planned overseas trips in 2023, it was decided to expand the list of those eligible to serve as counsellors of state. On 14 November 2022, the King sent a message to both Houses of Parliament, formally asking for a change in the law that would allow Princess Anne and Prince Edward to be added to the list of counsellors of state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Princess Anne and Prince Edward to become stand-ins for King |work=BBC News |date=14 November 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63626113 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=21 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921115457/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63626113 |url-status=live }}</ref> The next day, a bill to that end was introduced in Parliament and it received royal assent on 6 December, coming into force on 7 December.<ref>{{cite web |title=Counsellors of State Act 2022 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/47/enacted |website=National Archive |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729005020/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/47/enacted |url-status=live }}</ref>