History of the British Monarchy
The monarchy is the oldest institution of government. The Queen's full title in the UK is 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith'. Or in brief, she is known as Queen Elizabeth II. In the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man she is represented by a Lieutenant-Governor.
In addition to being Queen of the United Kingdom, the Queen is also head of state of 15 other realms and is Head of the Commonwealth. In each country where she is head of state, she is represented by a Governor-General, appointed by her on the advice of the ministers of the country concerned and independent of the UK government.
In the Overseas Territories, the Queen is usually represented by governors responsible to the UK government for the administration of the countries in which they serve.
The title to the Crown derives partly from statute and partly from common law rules of descent. Despite interruptions in the direct line of succession, inheritance has always been the way royal power has passed down the generations, with sons of the sovereign coming before daughters in succeeding to the throne. When a daughter does succeed, she becomes Queen Regnant and has the same powers as a King. The 'consort' of a king takes her husband's rank and style, becoming Queen. No special rank or privileges are given to the husband of a Queen Regnant.
Under the Act of Settlement of 1700, only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia, the Electress of Hanover (a granddaughter of James I of England and VI of Scotland), are eligible to succeed. The order of succession to the throne can be altered only by common consent of the countries of the Commonwealth, of which the monarch is sovereign.
The sovereign succeeds to the throne as soon as his or her predecessor dies. He or she is at once proclaimed at an Accession Council, to which all members of the Privy Council are called. Members of the House of Lords, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and other leading citizens of the City of London are also invited.
The coronation follows the accession. The ceremony takes place at Westminster Abbey in London in the presence of representatives of both houses of Parliament and all the major public organisations in the UK. The prime ministers and leading members of the Commonwealth nations and representatives of other countries also attend.
