Editing Sovereign immunity (section)

===United Kingdom===

====Immunity in proceedings====
Historically, the general rule in the United Kingdom has been that [[the Crown]] has never been liable to be prosecuted or proceeded against in either criminal or civil cases.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown Proceedings and Crown Practice|101}}</ref> The only means by which civil proceedings could be brought were:
*by way of [[petition of right]], which was dependent on the grant of the royal [[Wikt:fiat|fiat]] (i.e. permission);
*by suits against the [[Attorney General for England and Wales|Attorney General]] for a declaration; or
*by actions against ministers or government departments where an Act of Parliament had specifically provided that immunity be waived.

The position was drastically altered by the [[Crown Proceedings Act 1947]] which made the Crown (when acting as the government) liable as of right in proceedings where it was previously only liable by virtue of a grant of a fiat.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Halsbury|8(1)|Constitutional Law and Human Rights|382}}</ref> With limited exceptions, this had the effect of allowing proceedings for [[tort]] and [[contract]] to be brought against the Crown.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Proceedings to bring writs of [[mandamus]] and [[prohibition (writ)|prohibition]] were always available against [[minister (government)|ministers]], because their actions derive from the [[Royal Prerogative (United Kingdom)|royal prerogative]].{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}

Criminal proceedings are still prohibited from being brought against [[Her Majesty's Government|His Majesty's Government]] unless expressly permitted by the Crown Proceedings Act.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sunkin|first=Maurice|title=Crown immunity from criminal liability in English law|journal=[[Public Law (journal)|Public Law]]|year=2003|issue=Winter 2003|pages=716–729}}</ref>

As the Crown Proceedings Act only affected the law in respect of acts carried on by or on behalf of the British government, the monarch remains personally immune from criminal and civil actions.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown and Royal Family|47}}</ref> However, civil proceedings can, in theory, still be brought using the two original mechanisms outlined above – by petition of right or by suit against the Attorney General for a declaration.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown and Royal Family|56}}</ref>

====Other immunities====
The monarch is immune to arrest in all cases; members of the [[royal household]] are immune from arrest in civil proceedings.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown and Royal Family|52}}</ref> No arrest can be made "in the monarch's presence", or within the "verges" of a royal palace. When a royal palace is used as a residence (regardless of whether the monarch is actually living there at the time), judicial processes cannot be executed within that palace.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown and Royal Family|53}}</ref>

The monarch's goods cannot be taken under a [[writ of execution]], nor can [[distraint|distress]] be levied on land in their possession. [[Personal property|Chattels]] owned by the Crown, but present on another's land, cannot be taken in execution or for distress. The Crown is not subject to [[foreclosure]].<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown and Royal Family|54}}</ref>

As of 2022, there were more than 160 laws granting express immunity to the monarch or their property in some respects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Revealed: Queen's sweeping immunity from more than 160 laws |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/14/queen-immunity-british-laws-private-property |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> For instance, employees of the monarchy cannot pursue anti-discrimination complaints such as those under the [[Equality Act 2010]].<ref name=":0" /> The monarchy is exempt from numerous other workers' rights, health and safety, or pensions laws.<ref name=":0" /> Government employees such as environmental inspectors are banned from entering the monarch's property without their permission.<ref name=":0" /> The monarch is also exempt from numerous taxes, although Queen Elizabeth II did pay some taxes voluntarily.<ref name=":0" /> Some of the odder exceptions for the monarch are included in laws against private persons setting off nuclear explosions, or regulating the sale of alcohol after midnight.<ref name=":0" />