The cornerstones of our case in favour of the Crown.
The United Kingdom’s system of government has adapted over the centuries and formal power has steadily shifted from King to Parliament. It is true that real political authority now rests with elected representatives, and the Sovereign serves in a largely ceremonial capacity.
Despite these practical limitations, the Monarchy continues to provide the United Kingdom with enormous benefits that contribute to our country’s stability, continuity, national identity, and social cohesion. This page will seek to explore those advantages in some detail.
We understand the following to be core benefits of constitutional monarchy:
Continuity
To be a King is dedication, patience and moderation, self-denial, statesmanship, national unity and, above all, having faith in one’s people.
The late Queen served as the United Kingdom’s head of state for seven decades. Her late Majesty’s unwavering constancy and commitment to duty proved immensely beneficial to the unity of our nation. And despite the rapid social and political changes that came to define her reign, she remained the one steadfast figure in whom the British people’s faith never faltered.
His Majesty The King brings to the task of sovereignty an equally profound quality: a deep-rooted love for his country, which has been consistently demonstrated through his lifelong dedication to duty. As the longest-serving heir apparent in British history—a position he held for 70 years—The King has provided long-term stability and predictability, offering consistency to government and the nation at large.
Independence
The monarchy is a political referee, not a political player, and there is a lot of sense in choosing the referee by a different principle from the players. It lessens the danger that the referee might try to start playing.
The Monarch, alone in the State, has the advantage of being in constant touch, both officially and socially, with political leaders across the spectrum.
By remaining detached from politics, The King is able to perform important ceremonial and constitutional duties – such as the State Opening of Parliament and the appointment of the prime minister – without being entangled in partisan discourse.
Unlike elected heads of state, the Sovereign can focus alone on broader national interests rather than the demands of a political party or fleeting public opinion.
Unity
I think it is a misconception to imagine that the monarchy exists in the interests of the monarch. It doesn’t. It exists in the interests of the people.
For over a thousand years, the Monarchy has defined the story of our Nation, with each king and queen embodying not only the history of Britain, but the very character of her institutions. It is a rich inheritance enjoyed by everybody, whatever their background, faith, or convictions. It is for that reason it remains one of the last institutions to enjoy a marked depth of loyalty and affection.
The Sovereign stands above the seemingly endless shifting tides of party politics, uniquely able to cut across the divisions that fracture our community. Whether those divisions ethnic, religious or ideological, the Crown serves as a bridge between them, drawing together the many threads of our national life into a common identity.
‘King and Country’ sustained the British people throughout two World Wars. The same immense popularity for the monarchy as a unifying force continues today. Each action of the Sovereign serves to create a common sentiment because he is a servant to his nation.
Identity
Parliaments and Ministers pass, but she abides in lifelong duty, and she is to them as the oak in the forest is to the annual harvest in the field.
The King stands as the living embodiment of the British state in all its capacities, uniquely placed to safeguard our Nation’s cultural heritage and identity. As Sovereign, His Majesty presides over an institution wholly dedicated to the careful preservation and future transmission of those traditions which have shaped the character of British life for centuries.
The Monarchy is inextricably linked to the symbols of the United Kingdom, from the Union Jack - commissioned and sanctioned by King James I - to the Coat of Arms, the heraldic emblem of the Sovereign’s authority still employed by the government today. These symbols are instantly recognisable representations of Britain across the globe and remain visible reminders of the deep and enduring inheritance handed down to us through the generations by the Monarchy.
The institution has played a central role in the cultural development of our Nation, and its value goes beyond pageantry: it encompasses history, literature, art and music, and it has shaped the history of our country and the world at large.
Diplomacy
The Royal tour (of South Africa) gives reassurance that when it comes to flying the flag nobody does it quite as well as the royal family.
In the course of any reign, the Sovereign is left with an experience of affairs and a knowledge of people which are unrivalled. The King and the Royal Family provide intrinsic support for the consolidation of friendly international relations.
The King has a well-established diplomatic acumen, with half a century of experience in international relations, including previous state visits and diplomatic engagements. These qualities give him the necessary skills and expertise to handle the most delicate diplomatic matters.
His Majesty approaches those diplomatic matters unencumbered by the baggage of party politics, creating an environment conducive to productive discussions and negotiations.
Security
The monarchy’s most important constitutional function is simply to be there: by occupying the constitutional high ground, it denies access to more sinister forces; to a partisan or corrupt president, divisive of the nation; or even to a dictator. The Queen’s powers are a vital safeguard of democracy and liberty.
The King, for all practical purposes, is the head of the nation; he is at the summit of the great hierarchy of those who are employed in the work of the state. He is not a tyrant, nor a meddler, he is simply the honorary manager of our enormous national concern.
History’s epochal tides are littered with examples of Monarchs wielding enormous influence. It is only necessary to point to King George IV’s successful intrigue about the Catholic question in 1834. Or, Queen Victoria, who did not ask Gladstone’s advice in 1894 and had already decided to send for Lord Rosebery. Nor was it certain that King Edward VII asked Lord Salisbury’s advice in 1902, or again in 1908. There was an even more complicated situation in 1931, where the Labour government with no majority had resigned, and the nation was suffering a financial crisis; with a general election being out of the question, The King commissioned MacDonald to form a coalition, being much criticised for doing so, but this act was not unconstitutional.
These instances illustrate the immense power of influence that the Crown possesses under our constitution—a power restrained only by the wisdom and statesmanship of the Monarch. They demonstrate beyond doubt that, although rarely exercised due to the harmony of our system, the Sovereign remains the ultimate authority for preserving constitutional and political order.
