Editing Monarchy of the United Kingdom (section)

===Royal prerogative===
{{Main|Royal prerogative in the United Kingdom}}
That part of the government's executive authority which remains theoretically and nominally vested in the sovereign is known as the [[royal prerogative]]. The monarch acts within the constraints of convention and precedent, exercising prerogative powers only on the advice of ministers responsible to Parliament, often through the prime minister or [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torrance |first=David |date=24 October 2023 |title=The royal prerogative and ministerial advice |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9877/ |website=UK Parliament |series=House of Commons Library Research Briefing |access-date=23 December 2023 |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223105115/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9877/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In practice, prerogative powers are exercised only on the prime minister's advice – the prime minister, and not the sovereign, has control. The monarch holds a weekly audience with the prime minister; no records of these audiences are taken and the proceedings remain fully confidential.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Audiences |url=https://www.royal.uk/audiences |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=royal.uk |archive-date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208184348/https://www.royal.uk/audiences |url-status=live }}</ref> The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the decisions of the prime minister and Cabinet, who by definition enjoy the confidence of the House of Commons. In Bagehot's words: "the sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy&nbsp;... three rights – the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn."{{Sfnp|Bagehot|2001|p=75}}

Although the royal prerogative is extensive and parliamentary approval is not formally required for its exercise, it is limited. Many Crown prerogatives have fallen out of use or have been permanently transferred to Parliament. For example, the sovereign cannot impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorisation of an Act of Parliament. According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers", and Parliament can override any prerogative power by passing legislation.<ref name="PASC">{{Citation |title=PASC Publishes Government Defence of its Sweeping Prerogative Powers |url=http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/public_administration_select_committee/pasc_19.cfm |year=2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040104135404/http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/public_administration_select_committee/pasc_19.cfm |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=4 January 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The royal prerogative includes the powers to appoint and dismiss ministers, regulate the civil service, issue passports, declare war, make peace, direct the actions of the military, and negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements. However, a treaty cannot alter the domestic laws of the United Kingdom; an Act of Parliament is necessary in such cases. The sovereign is the [[Head of the Armed Forces]] (the [[Royal Navy]], the [[British Army]], and the [[Royal Air Force]]), and accredits British [[High commissioner]]s and ambassadors, and receives [[Head of mission|heads of missions]] from foreign states.<ref name=PASC/>

====Appointment of the prime minister====
The sovereign has the power to appoint the prime minister. In accordance with unwritten constitutional conventions, the monarch appoints the individual who commands the support of the House of Commons, usually the leader of a party or coalition that has a majority in that House. The prime minister takes office by attending the monarch in a private audience, and after "[[kissing hands]]" that appointment is immediately effective without any other formality or instrument.{{Sfnp|Brazier|1997|p=312}} The sovereign also has the power to dismiss the prime minister, but the last time this power was exercised was in 1834, when [[William IV]] dismissed [[Lord Melbourne]];<ref>Brock, Michael (September 2004; online edition, January 2008). "William IV (1765–1837)". ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. [[Oxford University Press]]. Retrieved 10 October 2008 (subscription required)</ref> since then, prime ministers have only left office upon their resignation, which they are expected to offer to the monarch upon losing their majority in the House of Commons.

[[File:Charles III, Starmer & Rayner in Nansledan 2025-02-10-14-25-A.jpg|thumb|King Charles III with Prime Minister [[Sir Keir Starmer]] and Deputy Prime Minister [[Angela Rayner]], 2025]]

While the sovereign also appoints and may dismiss every other [[Minister of the Crown]], by convention they do so only on the recommendation of the prime minister. It is therefore the prime minister who controls the composition of the government. In practice, the prime minister will request a member of the government resign in preference to advising the monarch to dismiss them; such ministers are euphemistically described as "leaving the government".

In a [[hung parliament]] where no party or coalition holds a majority, the monarch has an increased degree of latitude in choosing the individual likely to command the most support, though it would usually be the leader of the largest party.<ref>{{Harvp|Waldron|1990|pp=59–60}}; {{Citation |title=Queen and Prime Minister |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/QueenandPrimeMinister.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414023100/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/QueenandPrimeMinister.aspx |publisher=Official website of the British Monarchy |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 1945, there have only been three hung parliaments. The first followed the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974 general election]] when [[Harold Wilson]] was appointed prime minister after [[Edward Heath]] resigned following his failure to form a coalition. Although Wilson's [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] did not have a majority, they were the largest party. The second followed the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|May 2010 general election]], in which the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] (the largest party) and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (the third-largest party) agreed to form the first coalition government since World War II. The third occurred shortly thereafter, in [[2017 United Kingdom general election|June 2017]], when the Conservative Party lost its majority in a snap election, though the party remained in power as a [[minority government]].

====Summons, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament====
The sovereign has the power to summon, [[legislative session#Procedure in Commonwealth realms|prorogue]] and dissolve Parliament. Each parliamentary session begins with the sovereign's summons. The new parliamentary session is marked by the [[State Opening of Parliament]], during which the monarch reads the [[speech from the throne]] in the chamber of the House of Lords, outlining the Government's legislative agenda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Opening of Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.uk/stateopening/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=UK Parliament |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223071627/https://www.parliament.uk/stateopening/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Prorogation usually occurs about one year after a session begins, and formally concludes the session.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prorogation |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/prorogation/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=UK Parliament |archive-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617062258/https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/prorogation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Dissolution ends a parliamentary term, and is followed by a general election for all seats in the House of Commons. If not dissolved sooner, Parliaments are automatically dissolved after five years.

The [[Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011]] temporarily removed the sovereign's authority to dissolve Parliament; however, this power was restored by the [[Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022]]. The sovereign's power of [[Prorogation in the United Kingdom|prorogation]] was unaffected, which is a regular [[Legislative session#United Kingdom|feature of the parliamentary calendar]].

In 1950 the [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|Monarch's Private Secretary]] [[Alan Lascelles|Sir Alan "Tommy" Lascelles]], writing pseudonymously to ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper, asserted a constitutional convention: according to the [[Lascelles Principles]], if a minority government asked to dissolve Parliament to call an early election to strengthen its position, the monarch could refuse and would do so under three conditions. When Harold Wilson requested a dissolution late in 1974, [[Queen Elizabeth II]] granted his request as Heath had already failed to form a coalition. The [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|resulting general election]] gave Wilson a small majority.<ref>{{Citation |title=Results and analysis: General election, 10 October 1974 |date=11 March 2008 |url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74b/results.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014211057/https://www.politicsresources.net/ |publisher=Political Science Resources |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The monarch could in theory unilaterally dismiss the prime minister, but in practice, the prime minister's term nowadays comes to an end only by electoral defeat, death, or resignation.

====Other royal prerogatives====

Before a bill passed by the legislative Houses can become law, [[royal assent]] (the monarch's approval) is required.{{Sfnp|Crabbe|1994|p=17}} In theory, assent can either be granted (making the bill law) or withheld (vetoing the bill), but since 1708 assent has always been granted.<ref>{{Citation |title=Royal Assent |date=24 January 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/82104.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82104.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The sovereign has a similar relationship to the [[devolved]] governments of Scotland, Wales, and [[Northern Ireland]] as to the government of the UK. The sovereign appoints the [[First Minister of Scotland]] on the nomination of the [[Scottish Parliament]],<ref>{{Citation |title=UK Politics: Dewar appointed First Minister |date=17 May 1999 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/345189.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/345189.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[First Minister of Wales]] on the nomination of the [[Senedd]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Brief overview – Government of Wales Act 2006 |url=http://new.wales.gov.uk/legislation/govwalesact2006/briefoverview?lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026023357/http://new.wales.gov.uk/legislation/govwalesact2006/briefoverview?lang=en |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In Scottish matters, the sovereign acts on the advice of the [[Scottish Government]]. However, as devolution is more limited in Wales, in Welsh matters the monarch acts on the advice of the prime minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The sovereign can veto any law passed by the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], if it is deemed unconstitutional by the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Northern Ireland Act 1998 |url=http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730052148/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_2 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The sovereign is deemed the "fount of justice"; although the monarch does not personally rule in judicial cases, judicial functions are performed in his or her name. For instance, prosecutions are brought on the sovereign's behalf, and courts derive their authority from the Crown. The common law holds that the sovereign "can do no wrong", and so cannot be prosecuted for criminal offences. The [[Crown Proceedings Act 1947]] allows civil lawsuits against the Crown in its public capacity (that is, lawsuits against the government), but not lawsuits against the monarch personally. The sovereign exercises the "prerogative of mercy", which is used to [[pardon]] convicted offenders or reduce sentences.<ref name="parl">{{Citation |last1=Durkin, Mary |title=The Royal Prerogative |date=21 December 2005 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-03861.pdf |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625170825/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-03861.pdf |publisher=House of Commons Library |archive-date=25 June 2008 |last2=Gay, Oonagh}}</ref><ref name=PASC/>

The sovereign is the "[[fount of honour]]", the source of all honours and dignities in the United Kingdom. The Crown creates all [[Peerages in the United Kingdom|peerages]], appoints members of the [[knight|orders of chivalry]], grants knighthoods and awards other honours.<ref>{{Citation |last=Dyer |first=Clare |title=Mystery lifted on Queen's powers |date=21 October 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 May 2008 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204103616/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation |url-status=live }}</ref> Although peerages and most other honours are granted on the advice of the prime minister, some honours are within the personal gift of the sovereign and are not granted on ministerial advice. The sovereign alone appoints members of the [[Order of the Garter]], the [[Order of the Thistle]], the [[Royal Victorian Order]] and the [[Order of Merit]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Orders of Chivalry |date=30 April 2007 |url=http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/chivalry.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819024713/http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/chivalry.aspx |publisher=The UK Honours System |access-date=9 May 2008 |archive-date=19 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>