The powers of the British monarchy

King Charles III delivers first King’s Speech on Tuesday. What are the powers of the British monarchy? VIDEOGRAPHIC

Transcript

00:00 The Crown is the oldest part of the British system of government, and the King has a number

00:13 of constitutional powers.

00:15 The day after a general election, the monarch invites the leader of the party that won a

00:19 majority in the House of Commons to become Prime Minister and to form a government.

00:24 The King is the confidant of the Prime Minister and meets with him every week.

00:28 The King is bound to political neutrality in cases of serious constitutional crisis,

00:33 but he is allowed to go against the advice of ministers, which has never happened in

00:37 modern times.

00:39 The monarch opens the Parliament every year.

00:42 He reads out the government's programme in a tradition-heavy state opening ceremony at

00:47 Westminster.

00:49 The King also formally dissolves Parliament before each general election.

00:55 All bills are subject to royal approval.

00:57 The monarch can veto a bill and prevent it from becoming law.

01:03 The King has the power to appoint Lords to sit in Parliament solely on the advice of

01:07 the government ministers.

01:08 He personally confers knighthoods.

01:12 The King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and has the power to appoint bishops

01:16 and archbishops on the advice of the Church Commission.

01:19 Finally, Charles III is Head of State of the United Kingdom and of 14 other member countries

01:25 of the Commonwealth, of which he is also the head.

01:28 [Music]

01:36 (upbeat music)

01:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]