Buckingham Palace has prepared a secret plan in the event of the Queen's death. Record-breaking kings who have sat on the throne the longest since the unification of the Crowns
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British monarch or Sovereign- Head of State of the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories. The current British monarchy can trace its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period. In the 9th century, Wessex came to dominate, and in the 10th century England was united into a single kingdom. Most British monarchs in the Middle Ages ruled as absolute monarchs. Often their power was limited to the nobles and later the House of Commons. The monarch's powers, known as the royal prerogatives, are still extensive. Most prerogatives are exercised in practice by ministers, such as the power to regulate the civil service and the power to issue passports. Some prerogatives are exercised by the monarch nominally, on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, according to the constitutional convention. An example of a power is the power to dissolve parliament. According to the parliamentary report, "the Crown cannot introduce new prerogatives."
Scottish monarchy
In Scotland, as in England, monarchs appeared after the departure of the Romans. The aborigines at that time were the Picts and Britons, and after the Romans came the Scots from Ireland.
The early Scottish monarchs did not inherit the crown, but were chosen by a custom called a chanting. Over time, the tanning degenerated into a system of selecting monarchs from two branches of the House of Alpine, and then ceased after the accession of Malcolm II to the throne in 1005.
At the end of the Wars of Independence, in 1371, Robert II (King of Scotland) from the Stuart family became King of Scotland. From this family came James VI.
After the unification of the Crowns
James I (in England) and James VI (in Scotland) were the first monarch to rule England, Scotland and Ireland together.
The death of Elizabeth I in 1603 ended the reign of the House of Tudor; it was inherited by James VI, who called himself James I of England. Although England and Scotland were in a personal union, they remained separate kingdoms. James belonged to the Stuarts, who then often clashed with parliament, introduced taxes that were not approved by it, ruled without parliament for 11 years (from 1629 to 1640) and pursued religious policies alien to the Scots (they were Presbyterians) and the English (Puritans). Around 1642 the conflict reached its peak in the form of the English Civil War. In it, the king was executed, the monarchy was abolished and a republic (Commonwealth of England) was established. In 1653, Oliver Cromwell seized power and declared himself Lord Protector (became a military dictator). After his death, his son was not interested in ruling, and, at the request of the people, the monarchy was restored. The Restoration occurred around 1660, when Charles I's son, Charles II (King of England) was crowned king. The establishment of a protectorate was declared illegal.
In 1705, the Scottish Parliament was angered by the uncoordinated actions of the English Parliament in support of Queen Anne's claims and threatened to break the union. The English Parliament responded by passing the Aliens Act 1705, threatening to destroy Scotland's economy by undermining free trade. As a result, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union (1707), which united Scotland and England into one kingdom of Great Britain.
After the death of the last of the reigning Stuarts, Queen Anne, George I of the House of Hanover (a branch of the ancient Germanic Welf family) became king. The Germans found themselves on the British throne thanks to the Act of Succession, which cut off the path to the British crown for all the numerous Catholics related to the Stuarts. The first of these did not even speak English and was not an active ruler, preferring to delve into the affairs of the closer German states, and placed power in the hands of ministers, the leading of whom, Robert Walpole, is regarded as the first unofficial. Georgian era(the first four kings were called Georges) - a period of strengthening parliamentarism in Great Britain, the weakening of royal power, and the formation of British democracy. Under them, the industrial revolution took place and capitalism began to develop rapidly. This is the period of the Enlightenment and revolutions in Europe, the war for the independence of the American colonies, the conquest of India and the French Revolution.
George III concluded the Act of Union of 1800 and officially renounced his rights to the French throne.
After some political intrigue, after 1834 no monarch could appoint or dismiss a prime minister against the will of the House of Commons. During the reign of William IV, the Great Reform Act was passed, which reformed parliamentary representation by giving more rights to the House of Commons.
Reform of the British Empire
Inheritance
Succession is carried out in accordance with the Act of Succession 1701. Main articles: Line of succession to the British throne, Coronation of the British monarch
Regency
According to the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, the power of a monarch under 18 years of age, or physically or mentally incompetent, must be exercised by a regent. Incapacity must be certified by at least three of the following: the Sovereign's consort, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Keeper of the Rolls. To complete the regency, a declaration is also required from three of the same persons.
When a regency is necessary, the next eligible person in the line of succession becomes regent; parliamentary voting or any other procedure is not needed. The Regent must be over 21 years of age (18 in the case of a direct heir or otherwise), have British citizenship, and be a resident of the UK. Under these rules, the only regent was the future George IV, who reigned when his father George III went mad (1811-1820).
However, the Regency Act 1953 says that if the Queen's successor needs a regency, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) will be the regent. If the queen herself needs a regency, the next in line of government will be the regent (except for the queen's children and grandchildren - then Prince Philip will be the regent).
During temporary physical incapacity or absence from the kingdom, the Sovereign may delegate his functions to a Councilor of the State, a spouse, or the first of the four eligible in the line of succession. The requirements for a state councilor are the same as for a regent. Currently, there are five state advisers:
Political role
In theory, the powers of the monarch are extensive, in practice they are limited. The sovereign acts within the framework of conventions and precedents, almost always exercising royal prerogatives on the advice of the prime minister and other ministers. They are also responsible to the House of Commons, elected by the people.
The sovereign is responsible for appointing a new prime minister if necessary; The formal appointment takes place in a ceremony called Kissing Hands. By unwritten constitutional convention, the Sovereign appoints those who can gain support in the House of Commons: usually the head of the majority party in that House. If there is no majority party (an unlikely event due to the English First Past the Post electoral system), two or more groups can form a coalition and its leader will become prime minister.
In a hung parliament, where no party or coalition has a majority, the monarch has greater freedom to choose a candidate for the post of prime minister who, in his opinion, can command the support of the majority in parliament. From 1945 to 2010, such a situation arose only once - in 1974, when Harold Wilson became prime minister after the 1974 general election, in which his Labor Party did not receive a majority. (Instead of early elections initiated by a minority government, the monarch has the right to delay the dissolution of parliament and allow opposition parties form a coalition government.)
The Sovereign appoints and dismisses the Cabinet and other ministries on the advice of the Prime Minister. That is, it is the Prime Minister who now determines the composition of the Cabinet.
Theoretically, the monarch can dismiss the prime minister, but conventions and precedent prohibit this. The last monarch to dismiss a prime minister was William IV, in 1834. In practice, the prime minister's term ends only with his death or resignation. (In some circumstances, the prime minister must resign; see Prime Minister of Great Britain).
The monarch meets weekly with the prime minister; Regular meetings are also held with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch can express his vision, although ultimately he must accept the decisions of the prime minister and the Cabinet. Nineteenth-century constitutional thinker Walter Bagehot sums up the concept this way: “The sovereign in a constitutional monarchy has three powers: to consult, to encourage, and to warn.”
The monarch has a similar relationship with the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales. The Sovereign appoints the First Minister of Scotland, but on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister of Wales, on the other hand, is directly elected by the National Assembly for Wales. In Scottish affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Scottish Executive. In Welsh affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, as Welsh autonomy is limited. Northern Ireland does not currently have a devolved government; its assembly and executive body were dissolved.
The sovereign also plays the role of head of state. The Oath of Allegiance is made to the Queen, not to Parliament or the nation. Moreover, the British anthem - God save the Queen(or, accordingly, the King). The face of the Monarch is depicted on postage stamps, coins, and on banknotes issued by the Bank of England (banknotes of other banks, the Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Ulster, do not have an image of the Sovereign).
Royal prerogatives
Main article: Royal prerogatives
The powers vested in the Crown are called Royal prerogatives.
These include rights (such as making treaties or sending ambassadors) and responsibilities (such as defending the kingdom and keeping the Queen at peace). The constitutionality of the British monarchy is expressed in the fact that royal prerogatives are exercised on the advice of ministers. Parliamentary approval is not required; moreover, the Consent of the Crown must be obtained by either House before even debating a bill affecting prerogatives or interests. Prerogatives have limits. For example, the monarch cannot introduce new taxes; this requires an Act of Parliament.
It is also the prerogative of the monarch to convene, prolong and dissolve Parliament. The moment of dissolution depends on many factors; Usually the prime minister chooses the moment of the best political conditions for his party. The conditions under which the Sovereign may refuse dissolution are unclear (see Lascal's Principles). After a five-year period, however, Parliament is automatically dissolved under the Parliament Act 1911.
All parliamentary acts are adopted in the name of the monarch (the admission formula is part of the act). Royal assent is required before a bill becomes law (the Sovereign may assent, withdraw, or abstain).
In household matters, the powers are broad. Appointment of ministers, privy councillors, members of executive bodies and other officials. The Prime Minister and some other ministries do this for her. In addition, the monarch is the head of the armed forces (British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force). The prerogative of the Sovereign is to declare war, make peace, and direct military actions.
The prerogatives also concern foreign affairs: discuss the terms and ratify treaties, alliances, international agreements; Parliamentary approval is not needed to exercise these prerogatives. However, the treaty cannot change the internal laws of the kingdom - in this case an act of parliament is needed. The Sovereign also accredits British high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives foreign diplomats. British passports are issued in the name of the monarch.
Also the Sovereign is revered source of justice, and appoints judges for all types of cases. Personally, the monarch does not administer justice; judicial functions and punishments are carried out in her name. The general law is that the Crown "can do no wrong"; The monarch cannot be tried in his own court for criminal offenses. The Crown Proceedings Act 1947 allows civil actions against the Crown in public matters (i.e. against the government); but not against the person of the monarch. The Sovereign has the "prerogative of mercy" and can forgive crimes against the Crown (before, after and during the trial). The Statute of Westminster 1931 and the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, which made the king no longer king V dominions, and king of the dominions, that is, the king became the king of each separate kingdom. Although it is somewhat misleading to equate the crown of the United Kingdom proper with the crowns of the individual kingdoms, they are both referred to for convenience as the British crown.
With the growth of autonomy of the dominions, the role of the metropolis became minimal. The Crown remained the only official link between Britain and the self-governing dominions. But this connection was reinforced by common traditions in politics, culture, everyday life and in the English language. In 1952, at the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, Elizabeth II was proclaimed head of the association not by right of succession, but by general consent of the member states.
Finance
Parliament pays most of the Sovereign's official expenses from the budget. The Civil List is the amount that covers most expenses, including recruitment, state visits, social events, and official entertainment. The size of the civil list is fixed by parliament every 10 years; unspent money is carried over to the next period. The civil list in 2003 was approximately £9.9 million. In addition, every year the Sovereign receives an assistance grant from the budget for property maintenance. Property Services Grant-in-Aid , 15.3 million f.st. in the -2004 tax year) to pay for the maintenance of royal residences, as well as a royal travel grant. Royal Travel Grant-in-Aid; £5.9 million).
Previously, the monarch covered official expenses from the income of her inheritance, including the Crown Estate. In 1760, King George III agreed to replace the income from the inheritance with a civil list; this agreement is still valid. Currently, income from the Crown Estate significantly exceeds the civil list and grants: in 2003-2004 it brought in more than £170 million. to the Treasury, and parliamentary funding amounted to about 40 million pounds sterling. The monarch owns the estate, but cannot sell it; the estate must be passed on to the next monarch.
These residences belong to the Crown; they will be passed on to future rulers and cannot be sold. The monarch also owns private residences. Sandringham House, a private country house near the village of Sandringham, Norfolk, used from Christmas until the end of January. During August and September, the monarch resides at Balmoral Castle.
Dominion coat of arms
The dominion coat of arms is used in countries that were former colonies of Great Britain, such as Canada, Australia
Elizabeth the Second is healthy, everything is fine with her. However, in the UK they have already begun to prepare for her death. To begin with, we determined a code word. This is what will be communicated to everyone who should when this unpleasant event occurs. For what? So that no one guesses ahead of time. Thus, the death of Elizabeth's father, King George VI, was signaled with the words "Hyde Park Corner."
As the British newspaper reported, Buckingham Palace has prepared several options for the development of events. It is believed that the queen will most likely die after a short illness. The death of the Queen Mother in 2002 is cited as an example. She managed to call some friends to say goodbye and give away her beloved horses. If everything goes like this, then Elizabeth’s closest family members and her doctors will be next to her. The chief gastroenterologist, Professor Thomas, will control access to Her Majesty. He will also decide what information can be shared with the public.
The Queen's personal secretary, Christopher Geidt, should be the first to know about her departure. He will convey this sad news to the Prime Minister, using the code words “London Bridge is falling.” Then the information will go to 15 independent states, where Elizabeth II is also queen, and to the countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Her Majesty's ordinary subjects learn of her death much faster than before. So, on February 6, 1952, George VI was discovered by his footman at 7:30 in the morning. The BBC reported the king's death almost 4 hours later, at 11:15. And when Princess Diana died (this happened at 4 am in Paris), 15 minutes later it was known to journalists accompanying the then British Foreign Secretary in the Philippines.
For many years, the BBC had the right to be the first to report deaths in the royal family. However, now this tradition has been broken. The message will be transmitted to England's Press Association news agency and then distributed to media outlets around the world.
All English TV presenters will be required to wear a black suit and black tie. Residents of the United Kingdom will be allowed to go home from work. Airplane pilots will announce the sad news to passengers. Throughout the country, flags will be lowered and bells will ring. When the previous English monarch died, the bell in London's St. Peter's Cathedral rang every minute for two hours. The Sevastopol Bell in Windsor Castle (removed by the British during the Crimean War) struck 56 times - the number of years in the life of George VI.
By the way, British journalists even indicated the estimated date of death of Elizabeth II: “According to the National Statistical Service, a British woman who has reached 91 years old - which is what Korolyov will turn in April - on average can live another 4 years and 3 months.” Considering that the Queen Mother's funeral was "rehearsed" for 22 years, it is not surprising that Buckingham Palace is now ready for the departure of her daughter, Elizabeth II. They say that all nine days of mourning are scheduled almost to the minute.
(Bird in Flight publishes a fragmentary retelling of the article - the original can be read on The Guardian website.)
Most of the plans governing actions after the death of the British Queen - and Buckingham Palace, the government, and the BBC have such plans - assume that Her Majesty will die after a short illness. Her entire family and doctors will be nearby at this moment. When the Queen Mother left this world at midday on Easter Sunday 2002 at her home in Windsor, she had time to call all her friends and even give away some of her horses.
This time, the senior physician, gastroenterologist Professor Hugh Thomas, will be responsible for the Queen's last days. He will look after the patient, control access to the room, and also decide what information to make public.
Of course, there will be reports about the Queen's condition - not much, but quite enough. “Queen Victoria is in great physical pain, with symptoms of great concern,” announced royal physician James Reid two days before her death in 1901. “The King's life is moving peacefully towards its end” was the last message from Dr. George V to Lord Dawson on January 20, 1936. Immediately afterwards, Dawson injected the King with 750 milligrams of morphine and a gram of cocaine (a dose capable of killing him twice) to ease the monarch's suffering and also to accurately record the time of death and enable The Times to print the news by the next morning.
Her eyes will close and Charles will become king. His brothers and sisters will kiss his hand. The first official to hear the news will be Sir Christopher Gade, the Queen's private secretary.
Gade will call the Prime Minister. 65 years ago, when the last monarch died (George VI), the message about his death was transmitted to Buckingham Palace under the code phrase "Hyde Park Corner" in order to avoid information leakage. For Elizabeth II, what will happen is called “London Bridge”. The Prime Minister will be awakened, and the official on the secret line will say only one phrase: “London Bridge has collapsed.” From the Foreign Office's Global Response Centre, whose location is highly classified, the sad news will be sent to the 15 countries outside Britain where the Queen is also head of state, and to the 36 Commonwealth countries for which she has served as a symbolic figure for decades.
The Prime Minister will be awakened, and the official on the secret line will say only one phrase: “London Bridge has collapsed.”
For some time, the news of her death will be available only to the narrowest circles and gradually, like the waves of an earthquake, it will spread wider and wider. First, governors general, ambassadors and prime ministers will learn about this. They will open the cabinets and take out, to prepare, mourning sleeve bands exactly three and a quarter inches wide.
The rest of us learn about death much earlier than in the past. On the morning of February 6, 1952, George VI's body was discovered at 7:30 am. The BBC announced his death only four hours later. When Princess Diana died in a Paris hospital, journalists accompanying Foreign Secretary Robin Cook during his visit to the Philippines learned about what had happened within 15 minutes. For many years, the BBC was the first to announce the death of a monarch, but its monopoly sank into oblivion. When the Queen dies, news of what happened will be sent to both the Press Association and media in other countries at the same time. At the same time, a footman in mourning attire will appear at the door of Buckingham Palace, walk across the dull pink gravel of the courtyard and pin a dark notice with a black border to the gate. At the same time, the palace website will be turned into one dark page, showing the same text on a dark background.
The screens will light up. Tweets will fly around the world. The BBC activates RATS, a Cold War-era messaging system designed in the event of an enemy destroying its entire infrastructure. Some of the staff heard it in action during tests, but most only know about its existence. “Every time there is a strange noise in the news room, someone will always ask: ‘Is that her, right?’” a reporter I knew told me.
For people who find this news stuck in traffic jams, the source will be the radio. British commercial radio stations have a network of "blue lights" that light up in the event of a national disaster. As soon as the lights flash, the DJ will know that in a few minutes he will need to switch the broadcast to a news broadcast, and before that, change the current music to a more neutral one. Each radio station, even hospital radio, has two playlists: “Mood 2” (sad) and “Mood 1” (very sad). "If you ever hear Sabers of Paradise - Haunted Dancehall (Nursery Remix) something terrible has happened," wrote Chris Price, a BBC radio producer.
Some journalists still can't get used to the fact that the media has contingency plans in place in the event of royal deaths. For example, for 30 years, BBC news teams worked out scenarios every Sunday morning where the Queen Mother died from a fish bone stuck in her throat. And once the scenario of the death of Princess Diana in a car accident on the M4 (one of the main motorways in England) was also worked out.
BBC news teams spent every Sunday morning rehearsing scenarios where the Queen Mother died from a fishbone stuck in her throat.
The main goal of rehearsals is to have a speech ready that will at least approximately correspond to the moment. “It is with great sadness that we make the following announcement,” said John Snagge, the BBC presenter who told the world about the death of George VI. According to the former head of the BBC, much the same words will be used for the Queen. Rehearsals for her are different from rehearsals for other members of the royal family. “She is the only monarch in the world known to most of us. People treat her differently,” John explains.
When people imagine a modern royal death in Britain, they inevitably think of Diana. Farewell to the Queen will be more monumental. It may not be as emotional, but the scope will be wider and the consequences more impressive.
To some extent, people will be stunned by the scale of what happened. The procedure for royal funerals is familiar to the British (Diana's funeral plan was called "Bridge of the Tay" and was originally intended for the Queen Mother). But the death of a British monarch and the rise of a new head of state is a ritual few can remember: three of the Queen's last four prime ministers were born after she ascended the throne. When the Queen dies, both houses of Parliament will be recalled, people will be let off work early, and airplane pilots will announce the sad news to their passengers.
Even more difficult for the nation will be the realization of the fact that the last connection between it and the former greatness of the empire has been lost. One of the historians who gave me an interview and who, like many others, wished to remain anonymous, said: “Oh, she will take everything. We were told that Churchill's funeral was a requiem for Britain as a great power. But in reality, everything will end with Elizabeth’s departure.”
“We were told that Churchill's funeral was a requiem for Britain as a great power. But in reality, everything will end with Elizabeth’s departure.”
Her films will remind us how different the country she inherited was. One piece of newsreel would be played over and over again - from her 21st birthday in 1947, when the young queen was holidaying with her parents in Cape Town. She was 6 thousand miles from home, but within the British Empire. The princess is sitting at the table at the microphone. The shadow of the tree plays on her shoulder. “I declare that my entire life, no matter how long or short, will be dedicated to serving you and serving our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
Yet this taboo on discussion masks a parallel reality - the next big event in the life of the British nation is actually scheduled to the minute. A 92-year-old woman - the Queen will reach that age in April - has on average 3 years and 3 months to live, according to the Office of National Statistics. Elizabeth II is approaching the end of her reign at a moment of greatest uncertainty about Britain's place in the modern world; at a time when internal political tensions bring the kingdom close to destruction. Her death will also unleash internal destabilizing forces: Camilla, who will become queen, a new old king, and an uncertain future for the Commonwealth countries - largely of her own invention (the queen's title of "Head of the Commonwealth" is not hereditary). For example, in Australia, both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition support the country's transition to a republican system.
Coping with all these difficulties will be the Windsors' next main task. This is partly why the royal funeral and all subsequent ceremonies will be so large. The order of succession to the throne is only part of the work. Often, monarchs themselves took part in organizing ceremonies. Queen Victoria listed the contents of her coffin in 1875. The Queen Mother's funeral was rehearsed for 22 years. And Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, personally compiled the summer and winter menus for his funeral dinner. “London Bridge is the Queen's exit plan. This is part of history,” one of her courtiers noted.
There should not be and will not be any unforeseen circumstances. If the Queen dies abroad, a BAe 146 from the Royal Squadron will fly from Norholt with the coffin on board. Royal undertakers at Leverton & Sons always have a so-called 'coffin on call' for royal emergencies. George V and George VI were buried at Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. If the Queen dies while visiting their graves there, her body will be transported to London by car within a couple of days.
But the most elaborate plans are in place if the queen dies at Balmoral in Scotland, where she spends three months of the year. This will launch a wave of exclusively Scottish rituals. The queen's body will initially rest in the smallest of her palaces, Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, guarded by the royal archers in their traditional eagle-feathered hats. The body will then be carried along the so-called Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral for the service, and then placed aboard the royal train at Waverley station for the sad journey along the east coast.
If the Queen dies abroad, a BAe 146 from the Royal Squadron will fly from Norholt with the coffin on board.
Each scenario involves the queen's body being returned to the throne room at Buckingham Palace, which overlooks the northwest corner of the courtyard. There will be an altar, a pall, a royal standard and four grenadiers: bearskin caps tilted down, rifles pointed at the floor. Staff hired by the Queen more than 50 years ago will scurry through the corridors, following procedures they know by heart.
"Your professionalism trumps your emotions because there is a job that needs to be done," said one royal funeral veteran. There will be no time to grieve or think about what comes next. Charles will bring a lot of his own staff with him once he takes over. “Keep in mind,” said one courtier, “we are all here already working much longer than our allotted time.”
Outside, news crews will gather in designated areas opposite the Canada Gate, near the start of Green Park. “I have a book in front of me with instructions 5-6 centimeters thick,” one of the TV directors who will cover the ceremony said during our telephone conversation. - Everything is planned. Everyone knows what to do." Flags will be lowered throughout the country, and the silence will be interrupted from time to time by the ringing of bells.
In 1952, "Big Tom" rang from the top of St. Paul's Cathedral every minute for two hours after the news was announced. The bells of Westminster Abbey also rang, as well as the Sevastopol bell, taken from Crimea during the Crimean War and ringing only on the occasion of the death of the monarch. In 1952 he rang 56 times - once for each year of George VI's life.
The first plans for London Bridge date back to the early 1960s, and since then 2-3 meetings have been held every year, invariably involving participants from different areas (police, fire, army, television) and changing locations. The plan is updated each time, deleting all previous versions. Various specific knowledge is also shared with the participants. For example, the slow march from St James's Door to Westminster Hall takes exactly 28 minutes. Or, for example, the coffin must have a false lid to accommodate all the royal jewelry.
In theory, everything is carefully planned. But there are things that will require Charles' decision just hours after the Queen's death. “Everything must be approved and signed by the Duke of Norfolk and the King,” one of the officials told me. In recent years, much of the work on London Bridge has focused on Charles's rise to the throne. “In fact, two things will happen at the same time: farewell to one monarch and the ascension to the throne of another,” said one of Charles’s advisers. The new king's first address to the nation is scheduled for the evening of his mother's death.
In the first 48 hours, the phones of all major government agencies will be ringing with calls - the last time a monarch died was so long ago that most national organizations will be at a loss. And although the official advice for everyone is the same as last time - to continue minding your own business, not everyone will follow it. If the Queen dies during the Royal Ascot race, it will be cancelled. Marylebone Cricket Club said it was insured against such an event. The National Theater will cancel performances if sad news is reported before 4pm, and continue them if it is later. All games, including golf, at the Royal Parks will be cancelled.
On D+1 (the day after the Queen's death) the flags will be raised again and Charles will be proclaimed King at 11am. The Council of Succession, convened in the main hall of St James's Palace, long preceded Parliament. The Council of Lords Spiritual and Temporal has its origins in the Great Anglo-Saxon Assembly over a thousand years ago. In theory, all 670 current members of the Privy Council, from Jeremy Corbyn to Ezekiel Alebua, the former prime minister of the Solomon Islands, are invited, but the palace hall can only accommodate about 150 people. In 1952, the Queen was one of two women present at her own proclamation.
Senior civil servant Richard Tillrook will read the formal proclamation of accession, and Charles will perform his first duty as the new king, vowing to defend the Crown of Scotland and mentioning the heavy duty that now falls on his shoulders. After his speech, trumpeters from the King's Guard will emerge from the cathedral and blow three trumpets in honor of the new monarch, and Garter Chief of Arms Thomas Woodcock (the official salary for this position of £49.07 has not changed since 1830) will begin the ritual speech of the proclamation of King Charles III. In 1952, the event was covered with only four cameras. This time the television audience will be in the billions.
But the announcements are just beginning. From St. James's Cathedral, the King of Arms of the Garter Chief and half a dozen heralds, dressed like actors in an expensive Shakespearean production, will solemnly march to the statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square, which is considered the center of London, and read the news again. There will be a 7-minute 41-gun salute in Hyde Park. “There is not a single concession to modernity in this ceremony,” one former courtier told me. Tricorne hats and horses will be everywhere. Therefore, one of the things that TV people are afraid of is smartphones: every second person in the crowd will be holding a phone, which can ruin the historical picture.
Every second person in the crowd will be holding a smartphone, which can ruin the historical picture.
Following Charles's proclamation at St James's Cathedral, the new monarch will tour the country, stopping in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff to attend funeral services for his mother and, in his new role, meet the heads of state of his subjects.
For many years, the art of royal performance was more characteristic of other dynasties: the Italians, the Russians and the Habsburgs. British ritual events have always been complete failures. For example, at Princess Charlotte's funeral, the undertakers were drunk. Ten years later, during the funeral of the Duke of York in St. George's Chapel, it was so cold that George Conning, the Foreign Secretary, contracted rheumatic fever, and the Bishop of London died altogether. “We have never seen such a motley, such an awkward, such a disgustingly made-up corpse,” people said to a Times correspondent at the funeral of George IV in 1830. Victoria's coronation a few years later was also nothing to write home about. The clergy confused their words, the singing itself was terrible, and the royal jewelers made the coronation ring for the wrong finger. “Among some nations, solemn ceremonies are a gift to the nation,” wrote the Marquess of Salisbury in 1860. “In England it’s exactly the opposite.”
Obsessed with death, Queen Victoria planned her own funeral in style. But it was her son, Edward VII, who contributed greatly to the revival of royal ceremony. He turned the state opening of parliament and military exercises into celebrations with elaborate costumes and decorations, and also resurrected the medieval ritual of lying in state, in which the body of the deceased monarch is displayed in the building so that people can say goodbye. In 1932, George V started a tradition that continues to this day by broadcasting the nation's first Royal Christmas speech, which was written for him by Rudyard Kipling.
Elizabeth II, for all her practicality and lack of sentimentality, perfectly understands the theatrical power of the crown. “I must be seen to be believed in,” she once said. And there is no doubt that her funeral will cause a massive emotional outcry. “I think the death of the queen will increase patriotic sentiment,” one historian told me. “And as a result, it will strengthen support for Brexit.”
“I think the death of the queen will increase patriotic sentiment,” one historian told me. “And as a result, it will strengthen support for Brexit.”
A wave of these feelings will help cope with some of the inconvenient facts of the transfer of the throne. Camilla's restoration as Duchess of Cornwall has been a quiet success for the monarchy, but her emergence as queen will show just how far it can go. Since 2005, when Camilla married Charles, her official status has always been "princess consort". A status that has no historical or legal significance. But this will all change with the death of Elizabeth. By law, Camilla will become queen - this title is always awarded to the wives of kings. There are no other options. Current plans are for King Charles to introduce his wife to the public as queen the day after her mother's death.
Commonwealth countries are a different matter. In 1952, during the last change of monarch in the structure of the British Empire, at that time there were only eight members of the new organization. Sixty-five years later, there are 36 republics, which the Queen visited faithfully throughout her reign and which are now home to a third of the world's population. But the problem is that the status of the head of the Commonwealth is not inherited and there is no procedure for electing the next head.
For several years, the palace had quietly tried to ensure Charles's succession as head of the bloc in the absence of any other obvious option. Last October, Julia Gillard, the former prime minister of Australia, said that Christopher Heidt, the Queen's private secretary, visited her in February 2013 to ask for her support for the idea. Canada and New Zealand have since adopted this course, although the title itself is unlikely to be included in the list of titles that will be listed at the proclamation of King Charles. It will be part of a low-key international lobbying effort that will begin as diplomats and presidents fill London in the days following the Queen's death.
Thousands of final preparations will take place over the nine days before the funeral. The soldiers will march along planned processional routes. The prayers will be rehearsed once again. At D+1, Westminster Hall will be closed and cleaned to a shine, and its stone floor will be covered with one and a half kilometers of carpets. Candles will be brought from the abbey. The streets around will turn into places for ceremonies. 10 bearers of the royal coffin will be selected and will begin training somewhere in barracks away from human eyes. The number of pallbearers depends on the material of the coffin - members of the royal family are usually buried in lead coffins. Diana's coffin, for example, weighed a quarter of a ton.
It is customary for members of the royal family to be buried in lead coffins. Diana's coffin, for example, weighed a quarter of a ton.
At D+4 the coffin will be moved to Westminster Hall, where it will lie for four days on a hearse draped in purple cloth. King Charles will return from his UK tour to lead mourners. The orb, scepter and imperial crown will be attached to the coffin, and soldiers will stand guard. Then the doors will be opened to the crowd, and a stream of people will pour in, which will be interrupted only for an hour a day. About 300 thousand people came to say goodbye to George VI. The queue itself stretched for 6 kilometers. In the case of the queen, the palace expects at least half a million applicants.
Under the chestnut roof of the hall, everything will seem fantastically ordered, calibrated and calculated down to the centimeter, because it will be so. Four soldiers will stand motionless for 20-minute shifts, and two soldiers will be nearby in reserve, always ready to relieve. The officer, the eldest of the four, will stand at the feet of the late queen, and the youngest will be placed at her head. The wreaths on the coffin will be renewed every day. When Churchill lay in state in this hall in 1965, the ballroom at the nearby St Ermin's Hotel was converted into a replica of Westminster Hall so soldiers could perfect their moves before going on duty. In 1936, the four sons of George V revived the tradition of The Prince's Vigil, where members of the royal family arrive unannounced and also stand guard, replacing soldiers.
Before dawn on the ninth day, the day of the funeral, in a quiet hall, all the decorations will be removed from the coffin and given for cleaning. In 1952, it took three jewelers about two hours to clean the jewelry from the dust that had accumulated during this time. For the majority of the population, this day will be a day off. Shops will be closed. The stock exchange will not open either. And the night before, services will be held in churches across the country.
Exactly at 9 am the silence will be broken by the ringing of Big Ben. The distance from Westminster Hall to the Abbey is only a few hundred meters. The ritual will seem familiar, even though it is relatively new: the Queen will be the first British monarch since 1760 to be buried in the Abbey. Two thousand guests will await the procession inside.
When the coffin reaches the doors of the abbey at 11 o'clock, the whole country will fall silent. Railway stations will stop announcing flights. The buses will stop and their drivers will go to the side of the road. In 1952, at this time, all passengers on the London-New York flight rose from their seats and bowed their heads, flying over Canada at an altitude of over 5 kilometers.
Inside the abbey the archbishop will speak. When the coffin arrives, it will be placed on the green cart used to bury the queen's father, his father, and his father's father. 138 sailors from the Royal Navy will carry the coffin through the streets. The tradition began in 1901 when horses in Queen Victoria's funeral procession began to run away and a group of young sailors stepped in to take their place.
In 2002, a Lancaster bomber and two Spitfires flew over the Queen Mother's cortege, flapping their wings in tribute. From Hyde Park Corner the hearse will travel 37 kilometers along the road to Windsor Castle, where the bodies of all British monarchs are buried. The Queen's staff will be waiting for her, standing on the lawn. Then the monastery gates will close and the cameras will stop broadcasting. Inside the chapel, the elevator will descend into the royal crypt and King Charles will drop a handful of red earth from a silver bowl.
Translation by Ton Travkin.
Queen Elizabeth II on her 85th birthday (photo: TT)
No matter how sad it may sound, Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Overseas Dominions, Queen, Defender of the Faith, cannot live forever.
Since her accession to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has seen 12 British prime ministers and outlived 12 US presidents. She is now 88 years old. At some point, hopefully not soon, the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will come to an end.
But what happens next?
For at least 12 days (deaths, funerals and memorials) Britain will come to a standstill. This will cost the state billions of dollars in economic losses. Stock markets and banks will close indefinitely.
The funeral and subsequent coronation of the first heir will be officially declared a holiday, each of which will be a powerful blow to the UK's GDP, not to mention organizational costs.
The grief that gripped the people of Britain in 1997 was dubbed by journalists “Princess Diana syndrome” (photo: telegraph.co.uk) National mourning for the Queen will be a shock the likes of which Britain has never seen in 70 years. There will be both trivial events (the BBC canceling all comedy shows, for example) and events of cultural significance (Prince Charles will be able to change his name, and the text of the national anthem will be amended).
The death of the Queen Mother and the death of Princess Diana at one time caused waves of public hysteria. But the death of the first person in British society for many decades will be a real tsunami.
The vast majority of Britons simply cannot imagine their lives without Queen Elizabeth II.
It will be a strange, hazy period of time.
The first hours after the queen's death
Buckingham Castle (photo: travellingandfood.com) Much depends on the cause of the queen's death. If they are predictable (long-term illness, for example), then a detailed action plan and official statement will be prepared in advance. But if it happens unexpectedly, as in the case of Princess Diana, then events can easily spin out of control.
In any case, the majority of staff at Buckingham Palace and associated institutions will be sent home immediately. The Royal Court has a list of guidelines for workers in this case.
News of the Queen's death is expected to be disseminated through major British television channels. All BBC feeds will now show one live broadcast. Independent television channels will not be required to interrupt their regular broadcasting, but will most likely do so.
The BBC was forced to draw conclusions after it was caught off guard by the news of the Queen Mother's death in 2002. Presenter Peter Sissons was subsequently heavily criticized as he delivered the news while wearing a red tie. Since then, the Air Force wardrobe has always had black ties and suits ready to be worn at any time.
BBC presenters regularly undergo "training sessions" in which they are suddenly asked to make harsh statements that are patently false. These recordings, of course, are not broadcast anywhere.
BBC historical video: news of the death of the Queen Mother, 2002
All entertainment programs will be cancelled.
The last death of a British monarch occurred in 1952. The BBC has suspended all entertainment programming during the mourning period and is prepared to do the same at any time.
CNN already has a series of documentary programs about the life of the Queen, ready to immediately go on air especially on the occasion of mourning.
If the Queen's death were announced during business hours, the London Stock Exchange would likely close immediately.
The funeral news will have to be announced by the Department of Culture (although it is also possible that it will come directly from Buckingham Palace). The international reaction and outpouring of condolences are still difficult to predict.
Whatever happens formally, on the day of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the whole of Great Britain will be in shock and will actually cease to function as a state.
The Brief Resurrection of the British Empire
Great Britain flag at half mast. Buckingham Palace, death of Margaret Thatcher, 2013 (photo: stuff.co.nz) Given the Queen's international position, the news of the royal death will certainly become number one news around the world. Great Britain has its representations in every corner of the globe, and not only through consulates, but also thanks to former colonies and Commonwealth countries, which informally but swear allegiance to the British crown. The British Empire once covered a quarter of the earth's landmass, and the death of the Queen will mark a brief, surreal period in which the British can once again feel part of the empire thanks to the attention of absolutely all of their former subjects.
Of course, all British consulates will lower the national flag and cancel the reception of citizens. Officials will dress and behave according to procedures during the period of national mourning. Visitors will be able to leave their words of condolences in special books.
But there is still a lot of uncertainty about what will actually happen. In the 60 years since the last death of the British monarch, society has changed dramatically.
Behind closed doors in the palace
Chapel Royal at St James's Palace (photo: dailymail.co.uk) Once the majority of Buckingham Palace staff have gone home and local tourist attractions have closed to the public, the Accession Council will meet at St James's Palace to announce, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Queen's successor, Prince Charles. The meeting will be attended by members of the Privy Council, the Lords, the Mayor of London and the High Commissioners of several Commonwealth countries.
At the council, the new monarch (presumably Charles) will take the oath of allegiance to Parliament and the Church of England. He will also become the new Supreme Governor of the Church (Catholics cannot ascend to the throne). At the end of the oath, the council will make a "Proclamation of Accession", after which Britain will officially have a new monarch.
Prince Charles may change his name
Charles, Prince of Wales (photo: onenewspage.com) It is also worth paying attention to the possibility of Prince Charles renouncing the crown in favor of his son, Prince William, by changing his own name, which has been repeatedly discussed in the media.
Such a bold, but thoughtless, step could well lead to a constitutional crisis in Great Britain. But most likely this will not happen. And Prince William himself has repeatedly stated that it is unacceptable to transfer the crown in this way. William will simply become the new Prince of Wales (his father's current title).
Prince Charles will not necessarily become "King Charles". Upon ascending the throne, members of the royal family can choose a "throne name" from any of their Christian middle names. Thus, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George may take the name "King Philip", "King Arthur" or "King George".
Farewell to the Queen
Farewell to the Queen Mother, 2001 (photo: zimbio.com) While discussions continue, the queen's coffin will be prepared for public access so that those who wish can pay their respects.
The late Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall. Upon arrival of the coffin, a short ceremony will take place, after which the public will be able to bid farewell to the Queen and pay their respects to her. Access to the farewell hall will be open for only one hour per day.
While the Queen Mother's coffin lay in state at Westmister Hall, her grandchildren stood guard over the coffin for some time. This ritual is called the “Vigil of the Princes.” Something similar happened during the farewell to King George V. Although the “Vigil of the Princes” is not an official part of the ceremony, it will rather be included in the farewell program for Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Charles at the funeral of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, 2002 (photo: telegraph.co.uk) More than 200 thousand members of the public paid tribute to the Queen Mother with their presence. The scale of mourning for Elizabeth II will easily overshadow these figures.
The period of farewell to the Queen will be a massive, hysterical outpouring of grief. It will not be a somber minute of silence - it will be a blow to the psyche of the nation. When Princess Diana died, hundreds of thousands of people came to Buckingham Palace to lay flowers. According to some estimates, the number of bouquets exceeded a million.
There will be at least 20 million entries in condolence books. The queues for them will stretch for hours and kilometers. On the streets you will see people losing touch with reality. Shop owners will be forced to close their premises to avoid incurring the wrath of the mourning crowd.
Queen's funeral
Princess Diana's coffin (photo: Daily Mail) The body of Elizabeth II will lie in state in Westminster Hall until the day of the funeral. The Daily Mail believes they will take place 12 days after the Queen's death.
This will probably be the largest funeral of all time. Most world leaders will honor the Queen's memory with their presence.
On the day of Princess Diana's funeral, more than a million people lined the funeral procession and 30 million Britons watched the burial ceremony on television. The worldwide audience numbered 2.5 billion viewers.
The ceremony in Westminster Abbey will be led by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, the second most senior figure in the Church of England after the monarch.
Television audience of mourning ceremonies
Queen's final resting place
If Elizabeth II has already decided on her resting place, then it is either the Sandrigham estate or Balmoral Castle in Scotland. These two places are notable because they belong to the queen personally, and not to the palace.
The queen is at rest, a new king is on the throne. This is all? Of course not
2015 Queen Elizabeth II coin (photo: gmanetwork.com) In the days, weeks and months following the funeral, a lot of changes will occur in the country.
New coins will begin to be minted immediately, for which the British Mint already has corresponding blanks with a portrait of Charles. Of course, it will not be possible to replace the entire currency reserve overnight, but this will certainly happen within a few years.
The British national anthem, "God Save the Queen," will be replaced by "God Save the King."
A new inscription will appear on police helmets. Currently they contain the Queen's initials. In addition, updating of military symbols will be required.
British police helmets will receive new royal symbols (photo: telegraph.co.uk) All Britons will have to change their passport because it contains lines mentioning Her Majesty.
Postage stamps featuring the Queen's image will be retired.
These changes actually mean more than meets the eye. When Elizabeth II was crowned, her throne number - II - caused discontent among the Scots, since Scotland had never been ruled by Elizabeth I.
Once the traces of Elizabeth II's reign are gradually erased, the queen will be immortalized in monuments. The fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square is currently home to temporary statues and works of art, but former London mayor Ken Livingstone has repeatedly said that the plinth is reserved for Queen Elizabeth II.
How will it all end for the Commonwealth?
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is a staunch monarchist (photo: 2gb.com) The Queen's death will undoubtedly have much deeper consequences than new postage stamps. However, it is quite possible that it will spell the end for the Commonwealth as we now know it.
The Commonwealth is an organization of 53 countries where the British monarch is the official head of state, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Barbados. These are the remnants of the British Empire, which in the modern world remains in the form of trade and political relations between the former British colonies. Many of these countries became part of the British Empire against their will and almost all of them declared their independence long ago.
The death of Elizabeth II may become a reason for some Commonwealth countries to end their alliance with England once and for all.
Another supporter of the monarchy, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (photo: citynews.ca) Australia, for example, held a referendum on the republican status of the state in 1999. Ultimately, Republicans won 45% of the vote. Australians' support for the monarchy may stem from a personal attachment to the Queen herself, but if the object of their adoration is no longer there, a decision to part ways could easily arise.
The withdrawal of the Commonwealth countries from the alliance with England also largely depends on the time period of the queen's death. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are staunch monarchists and do their best to suppress any manifestations of republicanism before their eyes. But if the Queen leaves this world after the aforementioned prime ministers leave their seats, the resurgent republicans may find a more receptive audience.
Republican UK?
Depending on Charles's style of government, republicans may also become more active in Britain. But there is still no chance that Great Britain will become a republic in the foreseeable future. Support for the monarch is deeply rooted in the psyche of the people: 66% of respondents see their state as a monarchy, and only 17% choose a republic.
Long life!
On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will break the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria: she will become the longest-living British monarch of all time!
Queen Elizabeth II is the oldest living monarch in the world (photo: Wikimedia) Queen of the United Kingdom Royal coat of arms of Great Britain
Elizabeth II
With February 6 (1952-02-06 )
George V (King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Scottish monarchy
In Scotland, as in England, monarchs appeared after the departure of the Romans. The aborigines at that time were the Picts and Britons, and after the Romans came the Scots from Ireland.
Early Scottish monarchs did not inherit the crown, but were chosen by a custom called a chanting. Over time, the tanning degenerated into a system of selecting monarchs from two branches of the House of Alpine, and then ceased after the accession of Malcolm II to the throne in 1005.
At the end of the Wars of Independence, in 1371, Robert II (King of Scotland) from the Stuart family became King of Scotland. From this family came James VI.
After the unification of the Crowns
The death of Elizabeth I in 1603 ended the reign of the House of Tudor; it was inherited by James VI, who called himself James I of England. Although England and Scotland were in a personal union, they remained separate kingdoms. James belonged to the Stuarts, who then often clashed with parliament, introduced taxes that were not approved by it, ruled without parliament for 11 years (from 1629 to 1640) and pursued religious policies alien to the Scots (they were Presbyterians) and the English (Puritans). Around 1642 the conflict reached its peak in the form of the English Civil War. In it, the king was executed, the monarchy was abolished and a republic (Commonwealth of England) was established. In 1653, Oliver Cromwell seized power and declared himself Lord Protector (became a military dictator). After his death, his son was not interested in ruling, and, at the request of the people, the monarchy was restored. The Restoration occurred around 1660, when Charles I's son, Charles II (King of England) was crowned king. The establishment of a protectorate was declared illegal.
In 1705, the Scottish Parliament was very dissatisfied with the actions of the English Parliament that were not coordinated with it in support of the claims of Queen Anne and threatened to break the personal union by issuing the Act of Security (Act of Security 1704). In response, the English Parliament passed the Alien Act 1705, threatening to destroy Scotland's economy by undermining free trade between the two kingdoms and their colonies. As a result, the Scottish Parliament, during the negotiations, was forced to pass the Act of Union (1707), according to which the kingdoms of Scotland and England were united into a union state called the Kingdom of Great Britain.
After the death of the last of the reigning Stuarts, Queen Anne, George I of the House of Hanover (a branch of the ancient Germanic Welf family) became king. The Hanoverian branch came to the British throne thanks to the Act of Succession of 1701, which cut off the path to the British crown for all the numerous Catholics related to the Stuarts. The new king did not even speak English and did not take an active part in governing the kingdom, preferring to delve into the affairs of the German states that were closer to him in spirit, while transferring power into the hands of ministers. Among the latter, the presenter was Robert Walpole, who is regarded as the first unofficial Prime Minister of Great Britain. Georgian era(the first four kings were called Georges) - a period of strengthening parliamentarism in Great Britain, the weakening of royal power, and the formation of British democracy. Under them, the industrial revolution took place and capitalism began to develop rapidly. This is the period of the Enlightenment and revolutions in Europe, the war for the independence of the American colonies, the conquest of India and the French Revolution.
Inheritance
Succession to the throne is carried out in accordance with the Act of Succession 1701, as amended in 2011. The line of succession to the throne is determined by the principle of absolute, or equal, primogeniture (also known as the Swedish system of succession), that is, the throne is passed down in a descendant line regardless of gender. In addition, the heir at the time of accession to the throne must be a Protestant and be in Eucharistic communion with the Church of England, but can marry a Catholic.
Before changes to the Act of Succession adopted at the Commonwealth Summit on October 28, 2011, succession was based on the principle of cognatic primogeniture, and women inherited the throne only in the absence of direct male descendants of the monarch. In addition, the heir did not have the right to marry a Catholic.
Currently, the heir to the throne of the United Kingdom is Charles, Prince of Wales, the second-in-line heir is his eldest son, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and the third-in-line heir is Prince William's eldest child, Prince George of Cambridge.
Regency
According to the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, the power of a monarch under 18 years of age, or physically or mentally incompetent, must be exercised by a regent. Incapacity must be certified by at least three of the following: the Sovereign's consort, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Keeper of the Rolls. To complete the regency, a declaration is also required from three of the same persons.
When a regency is necessary, the next eligible person in the line of succession becomes regent; parliamentary voting or any other procedure is not needed. The Regent must be over 21 years of age (18 in the case of a direct heir or otherwise), have British citizenship, and be a resident of the UK. Under these rules, the only regent was the future George IV, who reigned when his father George III went mad (1811-1820).
However, the Regency Act 1953 says that if the Queen's successor needs a regency, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) will be the regent. If the queen herself needs a regency, the next in line of government will be the regent (except for the queen's children and grandchildren - then Prince Philip will be the regent).
During temporary physical incapacity or absence from the kingdom, the Sovereign may delegate his functions to a Councilor of the State, a spouse, or the first of the four eligible in the line of succession. The requirements for a state councilor are the same as for a regent. Currently, there are five state advisers:
Political role
In theory, the powers of the monarch are extensive, in practice they are limited. The sovereign acts within the framework of conventions and precedents, almost always exercising royal prerogatives on the advice of the prime minister and other ministers. They are also responsible to the House of Commons, elected by the people.
The sovereign is responsible for appointing a new prime minister if necessary; The formal appointment takes place in a ceremony called Kissing Hands. By unwritten constitutional convention, the Sovereign appoints those who can gain support in the House of Commons: usually the head of the majority party in that House. If there is no majority party (an unlikely event due to the English Relative Majority System), two or more groups can form a coalition and its leader will become Prime Minister.
In a hung parliament, where no party or coalition has a majority, the monarch has greater freedom to choose a candidate for the post of prime minister who, in his opinion, can command the support of the majority in parliament. From 1945 to 2010, this situation arose only once - in 1974, when Harold Wilson became prime minister after the 1974 general election, in which his Labor Party did not win a majority. (Instead of early elections initiated by a minority government, the monarch has the right to delay the dissolution of parliament and allow opposition parties form a coalition government.)
The Sovereign appoints and dismisses the Cabinet and other ministries on the advice of the Prime Minister. In practice, this means that the composition of the Cabinet is now determined by the Prime Minister.
Theoretically, the monarch can dismiss the prime minister, but conventions and precedent prohibit this. The last monarch to dismiss a prime minister was William IV, in 1834. In practice, the prime minister's term ends only with his death or resignation. (In some circumstances, the prime minister must resign; see Prime Minister of Great Britain).
The monarch meets weekly with the prime minister; Regular meetings are also held with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch can express his vision, although ultimately he must accept the decisions of the prime minister and the Cabinet. Nineteenth-century constitutional thinker Walter Bagehot sums up the concept this way: “The sovereign in a constitutional monarchy has three powers: to consult, to encourage, and to warn.”
The monarch has a similar relationship with the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales. The Sovereign appoints the First Minister of Scotland, but on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister of Wales, on the other hand, is directly elected by the National Assembly for Wales. In Scottish affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Scottish Government. In Welsh affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, as Welsh autonomy is limited. Northern Ireland does not currently have a devolved government; its assembly and executive body were dissolved.
The sovereign also plays the role of head of state. The Oath of Allegiance is made to the Queen, not to Parliament or the nation. Moreover, the British anthem - God save the Queen(or, accordingly, the King). The face of the Monarch is depicted on postage stamps, coins, and on banknotes issued by the Bank of England (banknotes of other banks, the Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Ulster, do not have an image of the Sovereign).
Royal prerogatives
The powers vested in the Crown are called Royal prerogatives.
These include rights (such as making treaties or sending ambassadors) and responsibilities (such as defending the kingdom and keeping the Queen at peace). The constitutionality of the British monarchy is expressed in the fact that royal prerogatives are exercised on the advice of ministers. Parliamentary approval is not required; moreover, the Consent of the Crown must be obtained by either House before even debating a bill affecting prerogatives or interests. Prerogatives have limits. For example, the monarch cannot introduce new taxes; this requires an Act of Parliament.
It is also the prerogative of the monarch to convene, prolong and dissolve Parliament. The moment of dissolution depends on many factors; Usually the prime minister chooses the moment of the best political conditions for his party. The conditions under which the Sovereign may refuse dissolution are unclear (Lascal's principles). After a five-year period, however, Parliament is automatically dissolved under the Parliament Act 1911.
All parliamentary acts are adopted in the name of the monarch (the admission formula is part of the act). Royal assent is required before a bill becomes law (the Sovereign may assent, withdraw, or abstain).
In internal affairs the powers are broad. Appointment of ministers, privy councillors, members of executive bodies and other officials. The Prime Minister and some other ministries do this for her. In addition, the monarch is the head of the armed forces (British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force). The prerogative of the Sovereign is to declare war, make peace, and direct military actions.
The prerogatives also concern foreign affairs: discuss the terms and ratify treaties, alliances, international agreements; Parliamentary approval is not needed to exercise these prerogatives. However, the treaty cannot change the internal laws of the kingdom - in this case an act of parliament is needed. The Sovereign also accredits British high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives foreign diplomats. British passports are issued in the name of the monarch.
Also the Sovereign is revered source of justice, and appoints judges for all types of cases. Personally, the monarch does not administer justice; judicial functions and punishments are carried out in her name. The general law is that the Crown "can do no wrong"; The monarch cannot be tried in his own court for criminal offenses. The Crown Proceedings Act 1947 allows civil actions against the Crown in public matters (i.e. against the government); but not against the person of the monarch. The Sovereign has the "prerogative of mercy" and can forgive crimes against the Crown (before, after and during trial).
Finance
Parliament pays most of the Sovereign's official expenses from the budget. The Civil List is the amount that covers most expenses, including recruitment, state visits, social events, and official entertainment. The size of the civil list is fixed by parliament every 10 years; unspent money is carried over to the next period. The civil list in 2003 was approximately £9.9 million. In addition, every year the Sovereign receives an assistance grant from the budget for property maintenance. Property Services Grant-in-Aid, 15.3 million f.st. in - gg.) to pay for the maintenance of royal residences, as well as a grant of assistance for royal travel (eng. Royal Travel Grant-in-Aid; 5.9 million f.st.).
Previously, the monarch covered the expenses of his office from the income of his inheritance, including Crown lands. In 1760, King George III agreed to replace the inheritance income with a civil list; this agreement is still valid. Currently, income from the Crown Estate significantly exceeds the civil list and grants: in 2003-2004 it brought in more than £170 million. to the Treasury, and parliamentary funding amounted to about 40 million pounds sterling. The monarch owns the estate, but cannot sell it; the estate must be passed on to the next monarch.
The Sovereign also has the Earldom of Lancashire, a private hereditary estate, as opposed to an official Crown estate. It also cannot be sold. The revenue from Lancashire should not go to the Exchequer; they form part of the Personal Purse (Privy Purse) and are spent on things that are not included in the civil list. County in
The dominion coat of arms is used in countries that were former colonies of Great Britain, such as Canada and Australia.
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