In recent news, King Charles III has taken the oath as Head of State in the British Constitutional Monarchy following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. Aged 96, Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, having spent an impressive 70 years on the throne.
Queen Elizabeth II: A Glimpse into Her Life
Born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21st April, 1926, in London, England, Queen Elizabeth II was the elder daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. In 1947, she married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey. Their first child, Prince Charles, was born in 1948. She was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, before an audience of 8,500 guests.
Insight into Types of Monarchy
Monarchies can be broadly divided into two types: Constitutional Monarchies and Absolute Monarchies.
Constitutional Monarchy: In such a setting, the monarch shares powers with a constitutionally organized government. While the monarch may serve as the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader, real governmental power rests with the Prime Minister, legislature, and judiciary. Countries like England, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand follow this form.
Absolute Monarchy: Here, a single individual, usually the king or queen, holds complete power. The succession of power is generally hereditary in nature and passes among members of the ruling family. This form of monarchy was prevalent during the Middle Ages, with countries like France, England, Spain, Austria, and Prussia being under absolute monarchs. Currently, countries like Brunei, Eswatini, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City, and the United Arab Emirates fall under Absolute Monarchies.
Roles and Powers of the British Monarchy
The British Monarchy is a constitutional one where the Sovereign serves as the Head of State, and legislative powers rest with an elected Parliament. The monarch typically remains politically neutral.
Functions of the Monarch:
1. Appointment of Prime Minister: The Monarch appoints the Prime Minister who enjoys majority support among MPs. Post general elections, the elected leader of a party is invited by the Monarch to form the government.
2. Opening Parliament: The Parliamentary year is ceremonially opened by the Monarch, who delivers an address outlining the government’s upcoming policies and priorities at the House of Lords.
3. Assenting Legislation: The Monarch gives Royal Assent to bills passed in the House of Lords and Commons.
Additionally, the Monarch also heads the Commonwealth of Nations, comprising 56 independent nations with a combined population of 2.4 billion.
A Brief Overview of Other Forms of Government
In addition to monarchies, there are other forms of government, such as democracies, republics, aristocracies, dictatorships, and oligarchies.
Democracy: This system allows citizens to vote for their preferred representatives or political parties. Countries like India, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and the USA follow this system.
Republic: Republics and democracies both have a system where citizens elect representatives who protect their interests. Countries like the United States, Mexico, India, France, Kenya, South Korea, Peru, and Indonesia are republics.
Aristocracy: An aristocracy is a government run by members of the ruling class, generally from affluent families or with specific ideologies.
Dictatorship: In a dictatorship, the country’s governance is in the hands of a single individual who possesses absolute authority. Countries like the Republic of Congo, North Korea, and Cameron are examples.
Oligarchy: In an oligarchy, a small number of influential individuals govern the country. Modern examples include China and Iran.
