Britain's Monarchy: How the Constitutional Monarchy Works Today
How Britain's monarchy works: what the King does as head of state, the powers he holds only in name, how the Crown is funded through the Sovereign Grant, and how the monarchy got here.
Last updated September 2026
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Britain's monarchy is one of the oldest institutions in the country. But it now works very differently from the way it did under the Tudors. The King is head of state. Parliament makes the laws.
The government, led by the prime minister, runs the country. This page explains what the monarch does and which powers remain. It shows how ministers use those powers and who pays for the monarchy. It also shows how it reached its present form.
TL;DR: The UK is a constitutional monarchy. Charles III is head of state. But he acts on the advice of ministers who answer to Parliament. He appoints the prime minister, opens Parliament and gives Royal Assent to laws. The Sovereign Grant, linked to Crown Estate profits, funds his official work. No monarch has refused a law since 1708.
What Britain's monarchy does
The Royal Family website describes two kinds of role for the monarch. One is head of state. The other is "head of nation".
| Duty | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Appointing the prime minister | The monarch invites the person most able to command the confidence of the House of Commons to form a government |
| Opening Parliament | The State Opening, where the monarch reads the King's Speech written by the government |
| Royal Assent | Formal agreement that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act |
| Weekly audience | A private meeting with the prime minister, usually each week |
| Privy Council | Approving Orders in Council agreed by ministers |
| Armed forces | Head of the Armed Forces; officers hold commissions from the Crown |
| Church of England | Supreme Governor of the Church of England |
| Commonwealth | Head of the Commonwealth, a role separate from being king of the realms |
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As "head of nation", the monarch attends national events. The monarch gives honours, thanks people for public service and supports charities. These duties have no legal force. But they take up much of the family's time.
Powers in name, used on advice
Many powers of government are still used in the Crown's name. Lawyers call them prerogative powers. They include making treaties, declaring war and granting honours. In practice, ministers decide how to use them. The monarch acts on their advice.
The last refusal of Royal Assent
Scottish Militia Bill, 1708.
Status: Reviewed.
Note: The House of Lords' own guide to its procedure records that the power to refuse Royal Assent "was last exercised in 1708". That year Queen Anne refused a bill to set up a militia in Scotland. Every bill passed by Parliament since has received Royal Assent.
Sources: House of Lords, Companion to the Standing Orders, chapter 8; House of Commons Library, "The UK's constitutional monarchy".
Custom requires the monarch to stay out of politics. By custom the King does not vote. He does not share political views in public.
How Britain's monarchy is funded
The Sovereign Grant pays for the monarch's official duties, staff and the upkeep of the royal palaces in use. The Sovereign Grant Act 2011 set it up. It replaced the older Civil List.
The Treasury sets the grant as a share of the profits of the Crown Estate. The Crown Estate is a large set of properties. It belongs to the monarch as sovereign, but its profits go to the Treasury.
The monarch also receives the income of the Duchy of Lancaster, a separate estate. It is known as the Privy Purse. The heir to the throne receives the income of the Duchy of Cornwall. Each year the Royal Household publishes a Sovereign Grant report and presents it to Parliament.
How Britain's monarchy got here
The modern system grew in stages, often after crises.
| Year | Change |
|---|---|
| 1215 | Magna Carta sets early limits on the king |
| 1649-1660 | Monarchy abolished, then restored |
| 1689 | Bill of Rights limits the Crown and requires Parliament's consent for taxes and a peacetime army |
| 1701 | Act of Settlement fixes the Protestant succession and protects judges' independence |
| 1708 | Last refusal of Royal Assent |
| 1830s onward | Prime ministers answer to the Commons, not the monarch |
| 1936 | Edward VIII abdicates after the government opposes his marriage |
| 2011 | Sovereign Grant Act replaces the Civil List |
| 2013 | Succession to the Crown Act ends male preference |
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For who inherits, see succession to the British throne. To compare the British model with other monarchies, see limited monarchy and ceremonial monarch.
One monarch, several crowns
Charles III is king of the United Kingdom. He is also king of several other independent countries, known as Commonwealth realms. They include Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Each is a separate crown. In each realm a governor-general carries out most of the monarch's duties. Each realm's own government advises the King on its affairs.
To see how the modern Crown took shape, see our guide to the best books about the royal family. It ends with Elizabeth II's long reign.
Verdict: how Britain's monarchy works
Britain's monarchy joins a hereditary head of state with a government chosen by voters. The King holds wide legal powers. But he uses them only on ministers' advice.
The last refusal of Royal Assent was in 1708. The Sovereign Grant, set by law and reported to Parliament, pays for most of the monarchy's official work. For the people who have held the crown since 1066, see the England royal family hub.
Sources checked for this page
- The Royal Family, "The role of the Monarchy"
- House of Commons Library, "The UK's constitutional monarchy"
- House of Commons Library, "The Crown and the constitution"
- Institute for Government, "The monarch, royal family and parliament"
- The Constitution Society, "The Monarchy"
- The Royal Family, Sovereign Grant annual report 2015-16
Questions people also ask
Does the King have real power in Britain?
He holds many legal powers, such as appointing the prime minister and giving Royal Assent to laws, but by convention he uses them on the advice of ministers. He does not make political decisions.
When did a British monarch last refuse to sign a law?
In 1708, when Queen Anne withheld Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill. No monarch has refused since.
How is Britain's monarchy funded?
Mainly through the Sovereign Grant, set under the Sovereign Grant Act 2011 and tied to the profits of the Crown Estate. The monarch also receives income from the Duchy of Lancaster.
Is Britain the only country where Charles III is king?
No. He is also king of several other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, each as a separate crown.