What are the roles and powers of the Monarchy?

Head of State

Head of the Executive (The Government) 

Head of the Legislature (Parliament) 

Head of the Judiciary

Head of the Commonwealth 54 Countries (Head of state of the 15 commomwealth countries)

Commander in chief of the Armed Forces

Supreme Governor of the established Church of England - Supreme Governor of the CofE

(Can coin money) 

Symbolic Powers

Summoning and dissolving parliament

Introducing legislation in Parliament (Royal Assent) 

Appointing the Prime Minister, 

Chairing meetings of the cabinet

Conferring peerages knighthoods and honours on his/her birthday

Declare and War and Peace

How is the Monarchy Funded? 


The Civil List
Money allocated from Taxpayers by the State, direct to each member of the Royal Household. Members of the immediate Royal Family (ie most of the Queen's children) receive annual allowances amounting to £2.5 million a year between them. The prince of wales is the only member of the Queen's immediate family who does not. The Civil List was set up in 1760 as an annual source of income for the monarchy, in exchange for the surrender of the revenues from the Crown estates. 


Grants in Aid
Allocated by Parliament through the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Transport to help with upkeep of occupied royal palaces and royal travel expenses. It funds the RAF aircraft of the No.32 (The Royal_ Squadron. The Royal Train, and until it's recent transformation: "The Royal Yacht Britannia" 


The Privy Purse


Personal Income/Private Income