The institution of the monarchy has been the most important phenomenon in the public life of Great Britain since the time of the first English king William the Conqueror (Wilhelm the Conqueror) to the present. What is it - a relic of the past or a symbol of national unity, more than once uniting the British in difficult times? ..
In our article, we tried to give a brief historical background on the ruling Windsor dynasty and the current reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of England.
You will be able to get acquainted with the regional information necessary for anyone who has seriously decided - a biography of the Queen of Great Britain, interesting facts and even curiosities from the life of the royal family, as well as get acquainted with the original and learn the translation of the national anthem of the British Empire. Learn English like a king!
royal family
The surname Windsor is relatively recent. During the First World War, the future grandfather of Elizabeth, King George V (cousin of both the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the last German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm), who belonged to the German Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty (the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) out of patriotic feelings defiantly renounced his German roots, adopting the surname Windsor [ˈwɪnzə], after the castle where the royal family lived at the time.
Thus, 1917 should be considered the beginning of the Windsor surname - the age for a European monarchical dynasty is quite young.
Until 1917, members of the royal family (Brit. Royals) did not have surnames: they were replaced by the name of the royal house and the name of the lands owned by the dynasty. Therefore, kings and queens signed only with the name -.
After the marriage of Princess Elizabeth Windsor to Prince Philip Mountbatten, it was decided that the heir to the throne would bear the surname Windsor, and descendants without the right to the throne would be called Mountbatten-Windsor.
The remaining persons of royal blood have the right to choose their own surname: in addition to the surname Windsor in the royal family tree many others are also present (often the title replaces the surname).
Common forms of address to members of the royal family:
|
HM-His (Her) Majesty |
His (Her) Majesty |
addressing a king or queen |
|
|
prince and princess |
HRH-His (Her) Royal Highness |
His (Her) Royal Highness |
addressing a prince or princess |
|
Duke and Duchess |
His (Her) Grace |
addressing a duke or duchess |
|
|
Earl and Countess, |
The Rt Hon — The Right Honorable |
The Honorable |
address to the count and countess, viscount and viscountess |
Young heiress
Little Lilipeth, as she was later called in the family, was born on April 21, 1926 in the family of a prince belonging to one of the most ancient and proud monarchies in Europe. And, what is especially important, it is ruling, albeit constitutional (the monarch rules his state only formally, since the laws are still adopted by the parliament elected by the people).
However, the golden-haired girl's chances of ruling the state were not so great: her father, Albert (Bertie) Windsor, Duke of York, was not the heir to the throne.
But chance intervened: the young princess had not even turned ten, when a romantic and scandalous story took place in the British Kingdom.
In 1936, Albert's older brother Edward, already King Edward VIII by that time, decided to marry American Bessie Wallis Simpson, a woman divorced (twice!), And also suspected of being in connection with the military intelligence of Nazi Germany.
As the head of the Anglican Church, the king could not have shown his subjects a more egregious example of violating the seventh commandment “Do not commit adultery” (The Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”): to marry a divorced person (“divorced”), and even twice, and even a member of the royal family (“royal family”), was equated with adultery.
Everything and everyone was against the couple in love: the Archbishop of Canterbury, government ministers, and the British people. The king made his choice: after a reign of less than a year, Edward VIII abdicated (“abdicated”) in his own name and on behalf of his descendants (“descendants”), stating the following in his national radio speech:
And Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor - Bertie, father of Elizabeth - ascended the throne, taking the name of George VI and making the eldest of his two daughters heir to the imperial throne.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
When World War II began (September 1, 1939), Princess Elisabeth was thirteen. London suffered from enemy bombing and the children of many residents of the capital were evacuated. But Elizabeth's mother flatly refused to leave London:
In 1940, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth made her first appearance on BBC radio, addressing the children of the evacuated cities:
In 1943, at the age of sixteen, the princess gave her first public speech to the soldiers of the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been a colonel for several months. After completing a course in driving and mechanics, five months later, the princess was promoted to junior officers (Junior Commander).
But despite the fears of the mother, the marriage turned out to be happy: after the wedding in 1947, according to tradition - in the Westminster Abbey of London, the prince and princess - and then the king and queen - lived in peace and harmony for many years , celebrating silver, gold and diamond weddings.
- It is noteworthy that the fabric Wedding Dress the princess bought with coupons - in the post-war period in the UK there were restrictions on the purchase of food, clothing, shoes, etc .; out of solidarity with the people, members of the royal family adhered to the generally accepted card system.
The heir to the dynasty, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, and a few years later, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew and Edward were born.
Queen's crown!
The coronation of 25-year-old Elizabeth II as the monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon took place on June 2, 1953 (her father had died a year earlier, in 1952).
The dress for the ceremony, like the queen's once wedding dress, was created by fashion designer Norman Hartnell. It was a work of art imbued with deep symbolism: the white silk of the robe was embroidered with floral motifs symbolizing the countries of the Commonwealth.
On the luxurious royal dress side by side: English Tudor rose (Tudor rose), Scottish thistle (thistle [ˈθɪs(ə)l]), Welsh leek (leek), Irish clover (shamrock), Australian acacia (wattle [ˈwɒt(ə) l]), Canadian maple leaf (maple [ˈmeɪp(ə)l] leaf), New Zealand fern (fern), South African protea (protea), lotus flowers (lotus flowers), symbolizing India and Ceylon, as well as the emblems of Pakistan - wheat ( wheat), cotton (cotton) and jute (jute).
For luck, the creator of the dress, secretly from the customer, placed on it a leaf of a four-leaf clover just where it was supposed to be touched left hand queens.
The coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey was not much different from the traditional one: except that it was the first such ceremony to be shown on television.
The coronation was accompanied by a magnificent celebration throughout the Commonwealth, and in London, in honor of the new queen, an official coronation luncheon was given, at which the chefs pleased the guests with the Coronation Chicken, a dish created especially for this occasion.
- The royal family lives in Buckingham Palace: it has 775 rooms, which are served by more than 800 people, each of whom once a year, according to tradition, the Queen sends a Christmas pudding.
- The monarchy "costs" the British people just over £36m a year.
- The Queen's fortune is estimated at 300 million pounds, which gives her the right to take only 257th place in the ranking of the richest people in the UK.
- The treasures of the crown do not belong to the queen - she only uses them by proxy, without the right to sell or donate.
- The Queen was born at the end of April, but celebrates her birthday twice a year: the first time in April with her family, the second, the so-called Queen's Official Birthday, on one of the Sundays in May or June, at the choice of the government .
Why at the beginning of summer? The official birthday of the monarch has traditionally been celebrated with lavish open-air festivities, so the choice of the exact date for the royal birthday party has always depended on weather conditions- Namely, at this time the weather in London is as dry and sunny as ever. - In 1981, during the Trooping the Color ceremony dedicated to official day At the birth of the queen, at the moment when Elizabeth was riding her horse Burmanka (Burmese), six pistol shots were fired (as it turned out later, the attacker fired blanks). Without losing her presence of mind, the queen continued the ceremony, showing an example of endurance and composure in the face of danger.
- During her reign, the Queen answered over 3.5 million letters and sent over 175,000 telegrams to her subjects in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
- The queen's breakfast consists of muesli and oatmeal, yogurt and two types of marmalade - light and dark.
- Elizabeth II is a passionate lover of horses and dogs. Her purebred horses often win races, and her success in breeding new breeds of dogs is admirable. Officially, the queen is the author of the dorgi (dorgi) and fergi (fergi), which occurred by crossing the corgi breed (corgi) with dogs of other breeds.
How to address the queen
You can write to Her Majesty at the following address:
Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
If you want to follow all the rules of etiquette when communicating with the Queen in writing, contact your addressee (addressee) Madam, and complete your message with the following phrase:
However, you may well stick to free style presentation: after all, it is known that the queen even understands, because she often has to “SMS” with her older grandchildren.
Elizabeth II holds many titles and honorary titles, including the seemingly "male" titles of Duke of Normandy and Lord of Maine. But the official website of the British monarchy, when communicating with the queen, advises at the beginning of a conversation to simply address her: Your Majesty ("Your Majesty"), and after that - Madam or Ma "am. By the way, it is becoming increasingly popular with the queen, do not miss your chance:
National Anthem of the British Empire
Its origin dates back to the eighteenth century. Depending on the gender of the monarch—and in the United Kingdom the rule is 40 monarchs: 34 kings and 6 queens, including the living one—the hymn was called God Save The King (“God Save the King”) or God Save The Queen (“God Save queen"). The authorship of the words and music has not been established.
God save the queen!
(free translation)
God save our merciful queen!
Long live our noble queen!
God save the queen!
Give her victory
Happiness and glory
And a long reign over us,
God save the queen!
Your chosen gifts
Shower her with Your mercy,
May she reign for a long time.
May she protect our laws,
To always give us a reason
Sing with heart and voice:
"God save the queen!"
There are many different variations of the British anthem: we have given only a brief official version, and you can find extended and modified versions in the English-language Wikipedia.
From the point of view of English grammar, the British anthem is interesting primarily for two reasons:
- The use of archaisms (the shortened version included only the obsolete form of the pronoun your - thy [ðʌɪ]).
- Widespread use of the subjunctive mood the present Subjunctive, the subjunctive of the present tense, which is formed using the infinitive of the semantic verb without the to particle and means a wish:
God to save the Queen! God bless you!
- Wherein:
The verb be remains unchanged regardless of the person:
I be
he, she, it be
we, you, they be - In other cases, compared to indicative mood, for verbs in the 3rd person singular. h. missing ending -s:
he/she/it make s - The modal verb may is also used in wishes:
May the force be with you! - May the force be with you!
So, God save the Queen! Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Her Majesty Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her Other Kingdoms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, Defender of the Faith.
Symbol English state, a mother of four children, a steadfast and courageous person, a passionate animal lover and a woman who is pleasant in every way!
In contact with
Queen Elizabeth II on her 85th birthday (photo: TT)
As sad as it may sound, Her Majesty Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God Great Britain, Ireland and the British Overseas Dominions The Queen, Defender of the Faith cannot live forever.
Since her ascension to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has seen 12 British prime ministers and outlived 12 US presidents. Now she is 88 years old. At some point, hopefully not soon, the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will come to an end.
But what happens next?
By at least for 12 days (death, funeral and commemoration) Britain will stop. This will cost the state billions in losses in the economy. Stock markets and banks will close indefinitely.
The funeral and the subsequent coronation of the first heir will be officially declared holidays, each of which will be a powerful blow to the UK's GDP, not to mention organizational costs.
The grief that gripped the inhabitants of Britain in 1997 was dubbed by journalists as the “Princess Diana Syndrome” (photo: telegraph.co.uk) National mourning for the Queen will be a shock that Britain has not seen in the last 70 years. There will be both trivial events (the BBC will cancel all comedy shows, for example) and events of cultural significance (Prince Charles will be able to change his name, and the lyrics of the national anthem will be amended).
The death of the Queen Mother and the death of Princess Diana at one time caused waves of public hysteria. But the death of the first person in British society for many decades will be a real tsunami.
The vast majority of Britons simply cannot imagine their life without Queen Elizabeth II.
It will be a strange, vague period of time.
The first hours after the Queen's death
Buckingham Castle (photo: travellingandfood.com) Much depends on the cause of the queen's death. If they are predictable (prolonged illness, for example), then a detailed plan of action and an official statement will be prepared in advance. But if it happens unexpectedly, as in the case of Princess Diana, then the course of events can easily get out of hand.
In any case, most employees Buckingham Palace and related institutions will be immediately sent home. The Crown Court has a list of instructions for employees in this case.
It is assumed that the news of the Queen's death will be distributed through the main British television channels. All BBC feeds will show one live broadcast. Independent TV channels will not be required to interrupt their regular broadcasts, but they will certainly do so.
The Air Force had to come to a conclusion after being caught off guard in 2002 by the news of the death of the Queen Mother. Host Peter Sissons was subsequently heavily criticized for delivering the mourning tidings while wearing a red tie. Since then, the Air Force wardrobe has always had black ties and suits ready to be worn at any time.
BBC TV presenters regularly go through "drills" in which they are suddenly asked to make harsh, deliberately false statements. These recordings, of course, are not broadcast anywhere.
BBC History Video: News of the death of the Queen Mother, 2002
All entertainment programs will be canceled
The last death of a British monarch occurred in 1952. For the period of mourning, the BBC has suspended all entertainment programs and is ready to do the same at any time.
CNN already has a series of documentaries from the Queen's life ready to go on the air immediately, especially on the occasion of mourning.
If the Queen's death is announced during business hours, the London Stock Exchange will most likely close immediately.
The mournful message will have to be voiced by the Department of Culture (although it is not excluded that it will come directly from Buckingham Palace). The international reaction and flow of condolences is still hard to predict.
Whatever happens formally, on the day of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the whole of Great Britain will be in shock and will in fact cease to function as a state.
Brief resurrection of the British Empire
Half-mast flag of Great Britain. Buckingham Palace, death of Margaret Thatcher, 2013 (photo: stuff.co.nz) Given the international position of the queen, the news of the royal death is likely to be the number one news in the world. The UK has its representations in every corner of the globe, and not only through consulates, but also thanks to the former colonies and Commonwealth countries, which informally, but swear allegiance to the British crown. The British Empire once covered a quarter of the earth's landmass and the death of the Queen will be a brief surreal period when the British can once again feel like part of the empire thanks to the attention of absolutely all their former subjects.
Of course, the national flag will be flown at half mast in all British consulates and the reception of citizens will be cancelled. Officials will dress and behave according to the procedures during the period of national mourning. Visitors will be able to leave their words of condolences in special books.
But there is still a lot of uncertainty as to what will actually happen. In the 60 years that have passed since the last death of the British monarch, society has changed dramatically.
Behind closed doors in the palace
Royal Chapel at St. James's Palace (photo: dailymail.co.uk) After most of the Buckingham Palace staff have gone home and local tourist attractions have closed to the public, a meeting of the Accession Council will be held at St James's Palace, at which, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the name of the Queen's successor, Prince Charles, will be announced. The meeting will be attended by members of the Privy Council, the Lords, the Mayor of London and the High Commissioners of some Commonwealth countries.
At the council, the new monarch (presumably Charles) will utter the words of the oath of allegiance to Parliament and the Church of England. He will also become the new Supreme Governor of the Church (Catholics cannot take the throne). At the end of the oath, the council will make a "Proclamation of Accession", after which Britain will officially have a new monarch.
Prince Charles may change his name
Charles, Prince of Wales (photo: onenewspage.com) It is also worth paying attention to the possibility of Prince Charles giving up the crown in favor of his son, Prince William, by changing his own name, which has been repeatedly discussed in the media.
Such a bold but thoughtless move could well lead to a constitutional crisis in the UK. But, most likely, this will not happen. Yes, and Prince William himself has repeatedly stated that the transfer of the crown in this way is unacceptable. William will simply become the new Prince of Wales (his father's current title).
Prince Charles will not necessarily become "King Charles". Upon ascension to the throne, members of the royal family may choose a "throne name" from any of their Christian middle names. Thus, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George may take the name "King Philip", "King Arthur" or "King George".
Farewell to the Queen
Farewell to the Queen Mother, 2001 (photo: zimbio.com) While discussions continue, the Queen's coffin will be prepared for public access so that those who wish can pay their respects.
The deceased queen will lie in Westminster Hall. Upon the arrival of the coffin, a short ceremony will take place, after which the public will be able to say goodbye to the queen and pay her respects. Access to the farewell hall will be open only for one hour a day.
When the Queen Mother's coffin lay in Westminster Hall, her grandchildren stood guard at the coffin for some time. This ritual is called the Vigil of the Princes. Something similar happened during the farewell to King George V. Although the “Vigil of the Princes” is not an official part of the ceremony, it is more likely to be included in the farewell program for Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Charles at the funeral of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, 2002 (photo: telegraph.co.uk) More than 200,000 members of the public honored the memory of the Queen Mother with their presence. The scale of mourning for Elizabeth II will easily overshadow these figures.
The period of farewell to the queen will be a massive hysterical outpouring of grief. It will not be a gloomy moment of silence - it will be a blow to the psyche of the nation. When Princess Diana died, hundreds of thousands of people came to Buckingham Palace to lay flowers. According to some estimates, the number of bouquets exceeded a million.
At least 20 million entries will appear in condolence books. The lines to them will stretch for hours and kilometers. On the streets, people will become visible, losing touch with reality. Store owners will be forced to close their premises to avoid incurring the wrath of the grieving crowd.
Queen's funeral
Princess Diana's coffin (photo: Daily Mail) The body of Elizabeth II will lie in Westminster Hall until the day of the funeral. The Daily Mail believes that they will take place 12 days after the Queen's death.
It will probably be the largest funeral of all time. Most world leaders will honor the Queen's memory with their presence.
On the day of Princess Diana's funeral, more than a million people lined the route of the funeral procession and 30 million Britons watched the funeral on TV. Worldwide, the audience totaled 2.5 billion viewers.
The ceremony at Westminster Abbey will be officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the second most senior figure in the Church of England after the monarch.
Television audience of mourning ceremonies
Queen's final resting place
If Elizabeth II has already decided on the place of her rest, then in this case it is either the Sandrigem estate or Balmoral Castle in Scotland. These two places are remarkable in that they belong to the queen personally, and not to the palace.
The queen is at rest, the new king is on the throne. It's all? Of course not
Coin with the image of Queen Elizabeth II sample 2015 (photo: gmanetwork.com) In the days, weeks and months following the funeral, a lot of changes will take place in the country.
New coins will immediately begin to be minted, for which the British Mint already has the corresponding blanks with a portrait of Charles. Of course, it will not be possible to replace the entire supply of currency overnight, but within a few years it will certainly happen.
National anthem UK "God Save the Queen" will be replaced by "God Save the King".
There will be a new inscription on police helmets. They currently contain the Queen's initials. In addition, an update of military symbols will be required.
British police helmets will get new royal symbols (photo: telegraph.co.uk) All Britons will have to change their passport as it contains lines mentioning Her Majesty.
Postage stamps with the image of the Queen will be out of circulation.
These changes actually mean more than meets the eye. When Elizabeth II was crowned, her number on the throne - II - caused discontent among the Scots, since Elizabeth I never ruled Scotland.
After the traces of the reign of Elizabeth II are gradually erased, the queen will be immortalized in monuments. The fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square currently serves as a home for temporary statues and works of art, however former mayor London Ken Livingston has repeatedly said that the pedestal is reserved for Queen Elizabeth II.
How will it all end for the Commonwealth?
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is a staunch monarchist (photo: 2gb.com) The Queen's death will no doubt have far deeper implications than new postage stamps. However, it is quite possible that it will spell the end for the Commonwealth as we now know it.
The Commonwealth is an organization of 53 countries where the British monarch is officially head of state, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Barbados. These are the remnants of the British Empire, which in the modern world has remained in the form of trade and political relations between the former British colonies. Many of these countries became part of the British Empire against their will, and almost all of them have long since declared their independence.
The death of Elizabeth II may be a reason for some Commonwealth countries to end their alliance with England once and for all.
Another supporter of the monarchy, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (photo: citynews.ca) Australia, for example, in 1999 held a referendum on the republican status of the state. Ultimately, the Republicans won 45% of the vote. Australian support for the monarchy may have come from a personal attachment to the queen herself, but if there is no object of adoration, then a decision to part ways can easily arise.
The exit of the Commonwealth countries from the union with England also largely depends on the time period of the death of the queen. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are staunch monarchists and do their best to suppress any manifestations of republicanism before their very eyes. But if the queen leaves this world after the aforementioned prime ministers leave their seats, then the resurgent Republicans may find a more receptive audience.
Republican UK?
Depending on the manner in which Charles ruled, the Republicans could also become more active in Britain. But there is still no chance that the UK will become a republic in the foreseeable future. Support for the monarch is deeply rooted in the psyche of the people: 66% of respondents see their state as a monarchy, and only 17% choose a republic.
Long time to live!
On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will break the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria to become the longest-lived British monarch of all time!
Queen Elizabeth II is the world's oldest reigning monarch (photo: Wikimedia) - Lord Speaker: Francis D'Sutsa
- Government
- Lord President of the Privy Council: Nick Clegg
- Chancellor of the Exchequer: George Osborne
- Lord Chancellor and Attorney General: Kenneth Clark
- Home Secretary: Theresa May
- State civil service
- official opposition
- Leader of the Opposition: Ed Miliband
- UK courts
- Courts of England and Wales
- Courts of Northern Ireland
- Courts of Scotland
- Scottish Parliament
- Scottish Executive
- National Assembly for Wales
- Elections 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Elections 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
- Assembly of Northern Ireland
- Elections 1998 , , , 2011
- Northern Ireland Executive
- Elections 1998 , , , 2011
- English Regional Assemblies
- Reserve questions
- local government
- Greater London authorities
- Elections: - -
- Human rights
- International relationships
british monarch or sovereign- Head of State of the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories. The current British monarchy can trace its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period. In the 9th century, Wessex came to dominate, and in the 10th century England was assembled into a single kingdom. Most British monarchs in the Middle Ages ruled as absolute monarchs. Often their power was limited to the nobles and later the Commons. The powers of the monarch, known as royal prerogatives, are still extensive. Most of the prerogatives are exercised in practice by ministers, such as the power to regulate the civil service and the power to issue passports. Some prerogatives are exercised nominally by the monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, in accordance with the constitutional convention. An example of powers is the power to dissolve parliament. According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown may not introduce new prerogatives."
Scottish monarchy
In Scotland, as in England, monarchs appeared after the departure of the Romans. The natives at that time were the Picts and the Britons, and after the Romans came the Scots from Ireland.
The early Scottish monarchs did not inherit the crown, but were chosen by a custom called a dance. Over time, the dancing degenerated into a system of choosing monarchs from two branches of the House of Alpin, and then ceased after the ascension of Malcolm II to the throne in 1005.
At the end of the Wars of Independence, in 1371, Robert II (King of Scotland) from the Stuart family became King of Scotland. James VI came from this family.
After the unification of the Crowns
James I (in England) and James VI (in Scotland) was the first monarch to rule England, Scotland and Ireland together.
The death of Elizabeth I in 1603 ended the reign of the House of Tudor; it was inherited by James VI, who called himself James I of England. Although England and Scotland were in a personal union, they remained separate kingdoms. Jacob belonged to the Stuarts, who then often clashed with Parliament, introduced taxes that were not approved by him, ruled without Parliament for 11 years (from 1629 to 1640) and pursued religious policies alien to the Scots (they were Presbyterians) and the English (Puritans). Around 1642 the conflict came to a head in the form of the English Civil War. In it, the king was executed, the monarchy was abolished and a republic (the Commonwealth of England) was established. In 1653 Oliver Cromwell seized power and declared himself Lord Protector (became a military dictator). After his death, the son was not interested in ruling, and, at the request of the people, the monarchy was restored. The restoration took place around 1660, when Charles I's son, Charles II (King of England) was crowned. The establishment of a protectorate was declared illegal.
In 1705, the Scottish Parliament was enraged by the actions of the English Parliament in support of the claims of Queen Anne, which were not coordinated with them, and threatened to break the union. The Parliament of England responded by passing the Aliens Act 1705, threatening to destroy the Scottish economy by undermining free trade. As a result, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union (1707), by which Scotland and England were united into one kingdom of Great Britain.
After the death of the last of the ruling Stuarts, Queen Anne, George I from the Hanoverian house (a branch of the ancient German Welf family) became king. The Germans ended up on the British throne thanks to the Act of Succession of the Year, which cut off the path to the British crown for all the numerous Catholics who are related to the Stuarts. The first of them did not even speak English and was not an active ruler, preferring to delve into the affairs of the closer German states, and transferred power to the hands of ministers, the leader of which Robert Walpole is regarded as the first unofficial. Georgian era(the first four kings were called Georges) - a period of strengthening parliamentarism in Great Britain, weakening royal power, and the formation of British democracy. Under them, the industrial revolution took place and capitalism began to flourish. This is the period of the Enlightenment and revolutions in Europe, the war for the independence of the American colonies, the conquest of India and the French Revolution.
George III concluded the Act of Union 1800 and formally renounced the rights to the French throne.
After some political intrigue, after 1834 no monarch could appoint or dismiss a prime minister against the will of the Commons. In the reign of William IV, the Great Reform Act was passed, which reformed parliamentary representation, giving more power to the House of Commons.
Reform of the British Empire
Inheritance
Succession is carried out in accordance with the Act of Succession to the Throne, 1701. Main articles: Line of succession to the British throne, Coronation of a British monarch
Regency
According to the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, the power of a monarch under the age of 18, or physically or mentally incompetent, must be exercised by a regent. Incapacity must be certified by at least three of the following: the Sovereign's spouse, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Keeper of the Rolls. To complete the regency, a declaration is also required of three of these same persons.
When a regency is needed, the next fit in the line of succession becomes regent; parliamentary vote or some other procedure is not needed. The Regent must be over 21 years of age (18 in the case of heir apparent or otherwise), hold British citizenship, and be a resident of the UK. Under these rules, the only regent was the future George IV, who ruled when his father George III went mad (1811-1820).
However, the Regency Act 1953 says that if the Queen's successor needs a regency, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) will be regent. If the queen herself needs the regency, the next in line will be the regent (except for the children and grandchildren of the queen - then Prince Philip will be the regent).
During a temporary physical incapacity or absence from the realm, the Sovereign may delegate his functions to the Councilor of the State, the spouse, or the first of four suitable in the line of succession. The requirements for a state adviser are the same as for a regent. Currently, there are five state councillors:
Political role
Theoretically, the powers of the monarch are extensive, in practice they are limited. The Sovereign operates within conventions and precedents, almost always using royal prerogatives on the advice of the prime minister and other ministers. The same are responsible to the House of Commons, elected by the people.
The sovereign is responsible for appointing, if necessary, a new prime minister; the formal appointment takes place at a ceremony called the Kissing Hands. In accordance with an unwritten constitutional convention, the Sovereign appoints persons who will be able to obtain support in the House of Commons: usually this is the head of the majority party in that House. If there is no majority party (unlikely case due to English First Past the Post electoral system), two or more groups can form a coalition and its leader becomes prime minister.
In a hung parliament, where no party or coalition has a majority, the monarch has more freedom to choose a candidate for prime minister who, in his opinion, can enjoy the support of a majority in parliament. From 1945 to 2010, this situation arose only once - in 1974, when Harold Wilson became prime minister after the 1974 general election, in which his Labor Party did not receive a majority. (Instead of early elections initiated by a minority government, the monarch has the right to delay the dissolution of parliament and allow opposition parties form a coalition government.
The Sovereign appoints and dismisses the Cabinet and other ministries on the advice of the Premier. That is, it is the Prime Minister who now determines the composition of the Cabinet.
Theoretically, the monarch can dismiss the prime minister, but convention and precedent forbid this. The last monarch to dismiss the prime minister was Wilhelm IV, in 1834. In practice, the prime minister's term ends only with his death or resignation. (In some circumstances, the Prime Minister must resign; see British Prime Minister).
The monarch meets weekly with the prime minister; regular meetings are also held with other members of the Cabinet. The monarch can express his vision, although he must ultimately make the decisions of the prime minister and the Cabinet. 19th-century constitutional thinker Walter Bagehot sums up this concept as "the sovereign under constitutional monarchy has three rights: to consult, to encourage and to warn.”
The monarch has a similar relationship with the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales. The Sovereign appoints the First Minister of Scotland, but on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister for Wales, on the other hand, is directly elected by the National Assembly for Wales. In Scottish affairs, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Scottish Executive. In the affairs of Wales, the Sovereign acts on the advice of the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Cabinet, for the autonomy of Wales is limited. Northern Ireland does not currently have a devolved government; its assembly and executive body are dissolved.
The sovereign also plays the role of head of state. The oath of allegiance is made to the Queen, not to Parliament or the nation. Moreover, the anthem of Britain - God save the queen(or, respectively, the King). The face of the monarch is depicted on postage stamps, coins, on banknotes issued by the Bank of England (notes of other banks, the Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Ulster, without the image of the Sovereign).
royal prerogatives
Main article: royal prerogatives
The powers vested in the Crown are called royal prerogatives.
These include rights (such as making treaties or sending ambassadors) and duties (such as defending the kingdom and keeping the Queen at peace). The constitutionality of the British monarchy is expressed in the fact that royal prerogatives are exercised on the advice of ministers. Parliamentary approval is not required; nay, the Assent of the Crown must be obtained by either House before even discussing a bill affecting prerogatives or interests. The prerogatives are limited. For example, the monarch cannot impose new taxes; this requires an Act of Parliament.
It is also the prerogative of the monarch to convene, prolong and dissolve Parliament. The moment of dissolution depends on many factors; usually the prime minister chooses the moment of the best political conditions for his party. The conditions under which the Sovereign may refuse to dissolve are unclear (see Lascal's principles). After a five-year term, however, Parliament is automatically dissolved under the Parliament Act 1911.
All acts of parliament are passed in the name of the monarch (the acceptance formula is part of the act). Before a bill becomes law, royal assent is required (the Sovereign may assent, withdraw or abstain).
In domestic affairs, the powers are wide. Appointment of ministers, privy councillors, members of executive bodies and other officials. The prime minister and some other ministries do it for her. In addition, the monarch is the head of the armed forces (British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force). The Sovereign's prerogative is to declare war, make peace, direct military action.
Concerning the prerogative and foreign affairs: to discuss the conditions and ratify treaties, alliances, international agreements; parliamentary approval is not required to exercise these prerogatives. However, the treaty cannot change the internal laws of the kingdom - in this case, an act of parliament is needed. The sovereign also accredits British high commissioners and ambassadors, and receives foreign diplomats. British passports are issued on behalf of the monarch.
Also the Sovereign is venerated source of justice and appoints judges for all types of cases. Personally, the monarch does not administer justice; judicial functions and punishments are performed in her name. The common law states that the Crown "cannot err"; the monarch cannot be tried in his own court for criminal offences. The Crown Proceedings Act 1947 allows civil actions against the Crown in public matters (that is, against the government); but not against the personality of the monarch. The sovereign has the "prerogative of mercy" and can forgive crimes against the Crown (before, after and during the trial). The Statute of Westminster 1931 and the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, by which the king became not king in dominions, and dominion king, that is, the king became the king of each separate kingdom. Although it is somewhat incorrect to identify the crown of the United Kingdom proper and the crowns of individual kingdoms, they are both referred to for convenience as the British crown.
With the growth of the autonomy of the dominions, the role of the metropolis became minimal. The Crown remained the only official link between Britain and the self-governing dominions. But this connection was reinforced common traditions in politics, culture, everyday life and in the English language. In 1952, at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, Elizabeth II was proclaimed head of the association not by hereditary right, but by common consent of the member states.
Finance
Parliament pays most of the official expenses of the Sovereign from the budget. The civil list is the amount that covers most expenses, including recruitment, state visits, social events, and official entertainment. The size of the civil list is fixed by Parliament every 10 years; unspent money is carried over to the next period. The civil list in 2003 was approximately £9.9 million. In addition, each year the Sovereign receives a grant from the budget for property maintenance assistance. Property Services Grant-in-Aid , £15.3 million -2004 tax year) to pay for the upkeep of royal residences, as well as a Royal Travel Assistance Grant. Royal Travel Grant-in-Aid; £5.9 million).
Previously, the monarch covered official expenses from the proceeds of the inheritance, including the Crown Estate. In 1760, King George III agreed to replace the income from the inheritance with the civil list; this agreement is still valid today. At present, the income from the Crown Estates far exceeds the civil list and grants: in 2003-2004 it brought in more than £170 million. to the Treasury, and parliamentary funding amounted to about 40 million pounds. The monarch owns the estate, but cannot sell it; the estate is to be passed on to the next monarch.
These residences are owned by the Crown; they will be passed on to future rulers and cannot be sold. The monarch also owns private residences. Sandringham House, a private country house near the village of Sandringham, Norfolk, is used from Christmas until the end of January. In August and September, the monarch resides at Balmoral Castle.
Coat of arms of the dominion
The coat of arms of the dominion is used in the countries of the former colonies of Great Britain, such as Canada, Australia
Monarchy
Britain is a country of traditions, and one of the strongest traditions is the monarchy. Looking at the modern British monarchy, we are faced with a clear contradiction between the basic law and reality.
Subjects of Her Royal Majesty
If you formally follow the letter of the law, the queen has almost absolute power, and the country at the same time looks completely undemocratic. The American constitution declares that the government is formed by the people and serves the people. In Britain, not only is there not a single law that would state anything like that, but there is no official legal concept of "the people." Residents of Britain are officially "subjects of Her Royal Majesty". At the same time, in accordance with one of the principles of English law, the monarch is above the law, that is, he can perform actions and deeds that are not provided for by law and even punishable.
Every autumn, Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech to Parliament in which she says exactly what "her government" should do over the next year. And according to the constitution, this is really her government. She is free to appoint anyone to the role of head of this government. This is her prime minister. Other ministers are appointed in the same way. These are her ministers, and if she is unhappy with any of them, then he is simply fired. The same applies to Parliament. According to the letter of the law, he "serves the Crown" (and not at all the "country", not the "people"). It is the Queen who calls Parliament. She dissolves it before the next elections. No decision of Parliament has the force of law until the Queen agrees to it. And the Queen personifies the law in court. If in the United States the police detain a person and turn him over to the courts, the court formally brings charges on behalf of the people. In other countries, the indictment may be on behalf of the state. In Britain, the charge is brought "in the name of the Crown". And if the defendant is found guilty, he is sent to one of Her Majesty's prisons.
Parade "Truping? De? Color"
Reality
Of course, in reality everything is different. The Queen cannot appoint the Prime Minister at her own discretion. She must find a candidate who will be supported by a majority of the House of Commons (the elected House of Parliament). According to the law, "her government" can levy taxes only with the consent of this chamber, and if the prime minister does not have the support of a majority there, the government's activities will be blocked. Therefore, the Queen chooses for this role the leader of the strongest party in the House of Commons. And he appoints the rest of the government, although formally he only advises the Queen who to appoint to these posts.
Saint James Palace
Similar is the relationship between the Queen and Parliament. Before the next election, the Prime Minister asks the Queen to allow the dissolution of Parliament, but it is inconceivable that the Queen would refuse this request. Theoretically, the monarch has the right not to approve the bill that passed through Parliament, but in practice this has not happened since 1708. Royal approval of the law is so formal that the Queen almost never does it personally; documents are signed for her by a trusted person.
Thus, the actual power of the Queen is severely limited. The message with which she opens the session of Parliament is prepared for her in advance. The Queen does not hide this fact and reads the message verbatim. If she strongly disagreed with a provision, she could interrupt her statement and ask the Ministers to correct the wording accordingly. This limits its formal ability to influence the activities of the government.
Westminster Palace. The Royal Gallery through which the monarch passes for the formal opening of Parliament
And yet the Queen performs several important functions. Politicians and lawyers usually emphasize three of them. The first is that the Queen represents the government. This means that people can be arbitrarily critical of the actions of the government and even demand its resignation, without in any way contradicting their patriotism. The change of government does not violate the stability in the country. Other countries have to come up with other symbols for these purposes. The second important function of the Queen is to ensure that the government does not become dictatorial. If the government succeeds in passing through parliament (of which the ministers are also members) a very unpopular or obviously harmful law for the country, the Queen may refuse to approve this law. If the incumbent Prime Minister loses the general election, ceases to lead a powerful party in the Commons, and asks the Queen again to dissolve Parliament (in order to trigger a new election), the Queen may refuse this request and dismiss the Prime Minister. However, within the framework of modern democracy, various forces balance each other without this. Finally, the Queen represents the country and participates in many different ceremonies and meetings that take up a lot of time. Thanks to this, the government can devote more time to solving pressing issues.
Buckingham Palace. white living room
Royal insignia. The so-called Honors List is published twice a year. People whose names are on this list are invited to Buckingham Palace and are given various titles by the Queen, such as Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Bath. As a result, various combinations of letters are added to the names of these people, for example KOG (Knight of the Order of the Garter). Life peerages are also complaining, which secures a seat in the House of Lords. Historically, in this way the monarch celebrated those who especially distinguished themselves in the service. Today, the Prime Minister decides who gets what titles. And although the titles themselves no longer have any specific meaning, for many, receiving the title personally from the Queen is a great honor. Basically, the titles are complained to politicians and statesmen, but sometimes they are received by businessmen, athletes, musicians, etc.
Buckingham Palace. Throne room
The park laid out by Christopher Wren
Power of love. Over the past two centuries, the people have consistently demanded high moral standards from their monarchs. In 1936, this forced Edward VIII, the uncle of Elizabeth II, to abdicate in order to marry the American Mrs. Simpson. She was twice divorced and also did not belong to the British aristocracy. The government and the church insisted that Edward refuse to marry and remain king. But he preferred marriage, and then settled abroad with his wife. Despite the resulting constitutional crisis, Edward subsequently received the title of Duke of Windsor and until the end of his days enjoyed the popularity and sympathy of the British.
St. James Palace. tapestry hall
royal regalia
Banqueting? house. Rubens painted ceiling
Monarchists and anti-monarchists
The question of whether there should be a monarchy or not has not been seriously debated for more than two centuries. A very small number of people in Britain can be classified as pronounced monarchists or anti-monarchists in the usual sense of these words. Most Britons view the existence of the monarchy with either neutrality or unspoken approval. Along with this, the question of how the monarchy should be organized is discussed. The queen continues to maintain her popularity, but the numerous problems of the royal family have greatly cooled the enthusiasm of the British. This is especially noticeable if we compare the magnificent celebrations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth with much more modest celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of her reign. The fact is that since the time of Queen Victoria, people want to see in the life of the royal family a model of the life of a truly Christian family. Some politicians, including conservative-minded members of parliament who traditionally support the monarchy, raise the question of how much the monarchy costs the country and how justified such expenses are. In response to such speeches and the apparent cooling of the British towards the monarchy, Elizabeth II, exempt from taxes, decided to pay taxes on her personal income. Some members of the royal family stopped receiving money from parliament for entertainment expenses. Shortly after the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the reign, part of Buckingham Palace was opened to the public. The purpose of this move was to raise funds for the renovation of Windsor Castle. This gives an idea of how the lifestyle of the royal family is changing. It becomes less majestic and less distant.
Kensington Palace
Windsor castle. Moser Hall
Windsor castle
Plantagenets, Lancasters, Yorkies...
The current Queen Elizabeth II has been reigning for fifty-four years. This is one of the few examples of royal longevity in British history. Queen Victoria reigned the longest - 64 years. And the shortest was the reign of Edward VIII - a little less than 11 months. After Parliament refused to grant permission for his marriage to a divorced American from Baltimore, W. Simpson, he abdicated in favor of his brother George V. And this is not the only conflict in British history between personal feelings and royal duties. When the pope refused to allow Henry VIII to divorce, he broke with Rome, which led to the founding of the Anglican Church. The role of monarchs in the life of their country is also not the same. But in any case, the change of monarchs and dynasties creates a chronological outline of the history of Britain.
Hampton Palace Court
Royal House in Greenwich
The Romans were in Britain until the beginning of the 5th century. There is little reliable information about what happened over the next two centuries. Traditionally, 449 is considered the year in which Britain was invaded. Germanic tribes who came as settlers, not as robbers. They were followed by other Teutonic tribes, and these migrations continued for about a century and a half. The tribes that came to Britain at this time are called by a common name - the Anglo-Saxons. Unlike the Franks who invaded Gaul, they did not establish their settlements next to the more advanced Celts and did not assimilate their culture. They kept their own language, developed their own culture and called new land in its own way - England, the land of the Angles. Gradually, numerous small areas united and formed the kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Sussex, Essex, Wessex and Kent.
Wessex dynasty
871 - 899 Alfred of Wessex
Countdown royal dynasties it is natural to lead from Alfred of Wessex. It was he who managed to successfully resist the Scandinavians, defeat them at Edington in 878 and conclude a pact on the partition of England. And his successors later conquered the territories occupied by the Scandinavians.
899 - 924 Edward the Elder
924–939 Æthelstan
939–946 Edmund I
959–975 King Edgar
975–978 Edward the Martyr
Period of Danish raids on England.
1016–1042 Knut, leader of the Danes
1042–1066 Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor, the youngest son of Æthelred II, returned the throne to the Wessex dynasty after its conquest by the Scandinavians.
Norman dynasty
1066–1087 William the Conqueror
Edward the Confessor died without an heir. The throne was taken by Harold. But the Duke of Normandy, William, who claimed the kingdom, invaded England in the autumn of 1066 and on October 14 defeated Harold and his army at Hastings. Harold was killed. The royal council recognized William's rights to the throne. England was conquered with extraordinary speed. Since then, William has been called the Conqueror. The Norman Conquest changed the entire course of English history.
1087–1100 William the Red (II)
Second son of William the Conqueror.
1100–1135 Henry I
Younger brother of William II.
1135–1154 Stephen Grandson of William the Conqueror. Henry I died without leaving a direct male heir, but took the word from the barons that they would recognize his daughter, Matilda. Breaking their promise, the barons crowned Stephen.
Brighton. royal pavilion
Plantagenet dynasty
1154–1189 Henry II
Son of Matilda, known as Heinrich Plantagenet. Since Stephen's son died, the throne passed to Henry by treaty.
1189 - 1199 Richard I the Lionheart
State institutions functioned so well that the son and heir of Henry II during the entire period of his reign visited England only twice, and then for several months. The rest of the time he spent in the 3rd Crusade and in Europe.
1199–1216 John
Brother of Richard.
1216–1272 Henry III
Took the throne ten years old.
1272–1307 Edward I
The origin of the title is associated with the name of Edward I Prince of Wales. He conquered Wales, which was nominally the possession of the English king, divided it into counties and annexed it to England in 1284. In the same year, at Carnarvon Castle in Wales, Edward had a son. In 1301 he was granted the title of Prince of Wales, which he held until he became King Edward II. Since then, the title of Prince of Wales has usually been held by the eldest sons of the king - heirs to the throne.
1307–1327 Edward II
Edward was forced to abdicate in January 1327; in September of the same year he was killed.
1327–1377 Edward III
1377–1399 Richard II
The throne was taken by the grandson of Edward III. His father, Edward the Black Prince, died during the life of Edward III.
Chinese corridor at the Royal Pavilion
Lancaster dynasty
In 1397, Richard II attempted to establish an autocracy. Two years later, while Richard was in Ireland, his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, also called Henry of Lancaster, who had been sent into exile by him, landed in England. Richard hurried back, but it was too late. Taken into custody, he was imprisoned in the Tower, where on September 30, 1399 he signed an act of renunciation. Richard died in captivity at Pontefract in February 1400. A new dynasty came to power.
1399–1413 Henry IV
1413–1422 Henry V
Son of Henry IV. Under the terms of the treaty at Troyes in 1420, Henry became regent of France under King Charles VI, and after his death he was to take the French throne. However, he died in 1422, two months before the death of Charles VI.
1422–1461 Henry VI
Son of Henry V Was proclaimed king eight months old.
Brighton. Royal Pavilion Banquet Hall
Linlisgow Palace near Edinburgh
Palace of Holyroodhouse. The official residence of the royal family in Scotland
York dynasty
1461–1483 Edward IV
Son of Richard, Duke of York, who led the opposition against Lancastrian rule. This war of dynasties was called the Wars of the Scarlet and White Roses. Richard died at the Battle of Wakefield. The struggle was continued by his son Edward, who declared Henry VI deposed, and proclaimed himself the new king.
Henry VI managed to restore his own power for a short time (October 3, 1470 - April 11, 1471).
1483–1483 Edward V
Son of Edward IV. He became king at the age of 12, after the death of his father, and was soon deposed by his uncle Richard, his father's younger brother. In the same year, he and his younger brother were killed.
1483–1485 Richard III
falkland castle
Tudor dynasty
A dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603. The Tudors came from the island of Anglesey off the coast of Wales. Their lineage goes back centuries. The Tudor period covers just under a century and a quarter between the accession to the throne of Henry VII on August 21, 1485, and the death of his granddaughter Elizabeth on March 24, 1603. These years are often called the beginning of the heyday of modern England, and 1485 is a turning point in the transition from the Middle Ages to the New Age. The greatest achievement of the Tudors was the unification of the English under a well-ordered monarchy, so that England could take her place in Europe as a strong nation-state.
1485–1509 Henry VII
Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Conquered the throne with the sword, defeating Richard III. He is a representative of the line of the first Lancasters, descended from John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III. In 1486 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV of York. Thus the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York combined to form the Tudor dynasty. The fact that Henry was born in Wales, where his father belonged to the Welsh nobility, made it possible to establish closer ties between Wales and England.
1509–1547 Henry VIII
1547–1553 Edward VI
Son of Henry VIII by his third wife, Jane Seymour. He ascended the throne at the age of nine and died at 16.
1553–1558 Mary Tudor (Mary I)
Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She escaped from the troops sent to capture her after the death of Edward and was proclaimed queen.
1558–1603 Elizabeth I
Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
Stuart dynasty
The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, was succeeded by her cousin James VI, King of Scotland, who ascended the English throne as James I. With him came the Stuart dynasty.
1603–1625 James I
After Elizabeth's death, the crown passed to James VI of Scotland, son of Mary of Scotland and descendant of Henry VII through his daughter, Margaret, wife of James IV. While remaining James VI of Scotland, the new monarch became known as James I of England.
1625–1649 Charles I
1649–1660 are the years of the republic. Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England from 1653 until his death in 1658. The post was inherited by his son Richard. However, in the absence of his father's prestige and the support of the army, on May 24, 1659, he resigned his position. The newly elected parliament voted for the King, the House of Lords and the House of Commons to rule the country, and on May 8, 1660, Charles II was proclaimed king.
1660–1685 Charles II
He was proclaimed king as a result of the restoration of the monarchy, but he himself counted his reign from the day his father was executed.
1685–1688 James II
Charles II had many mistresses, but never had a legitimate heir. Therefore, the throne was inherited by his younger brother Jacob.
1689–1702 William III of Orange and Mary II (from 1689 to 1694)
The birth of a son by James II meant that after the death of the king, the throne would be inherited not by Mary, wife of William of Orange and daughter of James, but by his son, who would undoubtedly be raised as a Catholic and future absolute monarch. This forced him to seek help from William, who was the son-in-law and at the same time the nephew of the king. He landed in England in November 1688. James II fled to France, and the Parliament? Convention offered William and Mary the crown.
1702–1714 Anna
Youngest daughter of James II. The main event during the years of her reign was the conclusion in 1707 of the union of England and Scotland, which led to the formation united state- Great Britain.
Hanoverian House
1714–1727 George I
To thwart any move aimed at restoring Jacobite power, English parliament adopted in 1701 an act of succession to the throne, according to which, in the event of the death of Wilhelm and his heiress Anna, the crown was to pass to the granddaughter of Jacob I Sophia, Elector and Dowager Duchess of Hanover, and her heirs. Sophia, like Queen Anne, died in 1714. The throne was taken by her son, who took the title of King George I. He did not speak English. In 1721 Walpole took over the cabinet and became the de facto ruler of Britain.
1727–1760 George II
Son of George I. Took the throne after the death of his father. Walpole retained the post of Prime Minister until 1742, but he no longer had the former power.
1760–1820 George III
Grandson of George II. During his reign (January 1, 1801) Ireland was united with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From the book History of State and Law foreign countries: Cheat sheet author author unknown
From the book Theory of State and Law: Cheat Sheet author author unknown From the book Encyclopedia of the Lawyer of the author17. FORM OF GOVERNMENT. MONARCHY The form of government is the organization of the supreme power of the state, characterized by a special source of power and a special mutual relationship between the highest bodies of the state. The main forms of government are monarchy and republic. Extraordinary forms
From the book Philosophical Dictionary author Comte Sponville AndréDualistic monarchy DUALISTIC MONARCHY (lat. dualis - dual) - a kind of constitutional (limited) monarchy, characterized by separation legislature from the executive. Dualistic and parliamentary forms of government are based on
From the book All About Great Britain author Ivanova Julia AnatolievnaConstitutional monarchy CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY - a form of government in which the monarch, although he is the head of state, however, unlike an absolute or unlimited monarchy, his power is limited by the constitution. K.m. usually subdivided into dualistic and
From the author's bookLimited monarchy, see Constitutional monarchy.
From the author's bookParliamentary Monarchy A PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY is one of two types of constitutional monarchy (along with a dualistic monarchy). It is characterized by the fact that the monarch performs his functions nominally. Government under P.m. formally and actually responsible to
From the author's book From the author's bookMonarchy Britain is a country of traditions, and one of the strongest traditions is the monarchy. Looking at the modern British monarchy, we are faced with a clear contradiction between the basic law and reality. Subjects of Her Royal Majesty If formally
From the author's bookThe British monarchy in the persons of ANNA (Anne) (1665-1714). Queen of Great Britain and Ireland 1702-1714. Youngest daughter of James II and Anne Hyde. The last of the Stuart dynasty. She was born February 6, 1665. Anna was brought up in Protestant traditions. Therefore, during the so-called.
(Bird in Flight publishes a fragmentary retelling of the article - the original can be read at The Guardian.)
Most of the plans for dealing with the death of the British Queen - and Buckingham Palace has such plans, and the government, and the BBC - assume that Her Majesty will die after a short illness. All her family and doctors will be there at this moment. When the Queen Mother left this world at noon on Easter Sunday 2002 at her home in Windsor, she had time to call all her friends and even give away some of her horses.
This time, the senior physician, gastroenterologist Professor Hugh Thomas, will be responsible for the last days of the Queen. He will look after the patient, control access to the room, and also decide what information to make public.
Of course, there will be reports on the queen's condition - not much, but enough. "Queen Victoria is in severe physical pain along with symptoms of great concern," announced the royal physician, James Reed, two days before her death in 1901. "The life of the king is moving peacefully towards its decline" was the last message of Dr. George V Lord Dawson on January 20, 1936. Immediately afterwards, Dawson injected the king with 750 milligrams of morphine and a gram of cocaine (a dose capable of killing him twice) to alleviate the monarch's suffering, as well as to accurately record the time of death and give The Times newspaper the opportunity to print the news by the next morning.
Her eyes will close and Charles will become king. His brothers and sisters will kiss his hand. The first official to hear the news will be Sir Christopher Gade, the Queen's private secretary.
Gade will call the prime minister. 65 years ago when last time the monarch (George VI) died, a message of his death was transmitted to Buckingham Palace under the code phrase "Hyde Park Corner" in order to avoid leakage of information. For Elizabeth II, what will happen is called "London Bridge". The Prime Minister will be woken up and the secret line official will utter only one phrase: "London Bridge has collapsed." From the Foreign Office's Global Response Center, whose location is highly classified, the sad news will be sent to 15 countries outside Britain, where the Queen is also head of state, and 36 Commonwealth countries, for which she has served as a symbolic figure for decades.
The Prime Minister will be woken up and the secret line official will utter only one phrase: "London Bridge has collapsed."
For some time, the news of her death will be available only to the narrowest circles and gradually, like the waves of an earthquake, it will spread wider and wider. First, governors general, ambassadors and prime ministers will learn about it. Cupboards will be opened and taken out to prepare, mourning sleeves exactly three and a quarter inches wide.
The rest of us learn about death much earlier than in the past. On the morning of February 6, 1952, the body of George VI was discovered at 7:30 am. The BBC announced his death only four hours later. When Princess Diana died in a Paris hospital, journalists who accompanied Foreign Minister Robin Cook on his visit to the Philippines found out about the incident 15 minutes later. For many years, the BBC was the first to announce the death of a monarch, but its monopoly has sunk into oblivion. When the queen dies, the news of what happened will be sent to both the Press Association and the media of other countries at the same time. At the same time, a footman in mourning robes will appear at the door of Buckingham Palace, walk across the dull pink gravel of the courtyard, and pin a dark, black-edged sign to the gate. In an instant, the palace website will be reduced to one gloomy page showing the same text on a dark background.
The screens will light up. The tweets will spread all over the world. The BBC activates RATS, a Cold War messaging system designed in case the enemy destroys the entire infrastructure. Some of the staff heard it in action during the tests, but most know only about its existence. “Every time a strange noise is heard in the newsroom, someone will always ask: “Is this her, right?” A reporter friend told me.
For the people this news will find in traffic jams, the source will be the radio. British commercial radio stations have a network of "blue lights" that light up in the event of a national disaster. As soon as the lights flash, the DJ will know that in a few minutes he will need to switch the air to the news broadcast, and before that, change the current music to a more neutral one. Every radio station, down to hospital radio, has two playlists: "Mood 2" (sad) and "Mood 1" (very sad). "If you ever hear Sabers of Paradise - Haunted Dancehall (Nursery Remix), something terrible has happened," wrote BBC radio producer Chris Price.
Some journalists still can't get used to the fact that the media has prepared action plans in the event of the death of royals. For example, for 30 years, BBC news teams have each Sunday morning worked out scenarios for the death of the queen mother from a fish bone stuck in her throat. And once the scenario of the death of Princess Diana in a car accident on the M4 (one of the main highways in England) was also worked out.
BBC news crews worked out scenarios every Sunday morning for the death of the Queen Mother from a fish bone stuck in her throat.
The main goal of rehearsals is to have a speech ready that will at least approximately correspond to the moment. “It is with great sadness that we make the following announcement,” said John Snugge, the BBC presenter who told the world about the death of George VI. According to former head BBC, about the same words will be used for the queen. Rehearsals for her are different from rehearsals for other members of the royal family. “She is the only monarch in the world known to most of us. People treat her differently,” John explains.
When people think of modern-day royal death in Britain, they inevitably think of Diana. Farewell to the queen will be more monumental. It may not be as emotional, but the scope will be wider and the consequences more impressive.
To some extent, people will be stunned by the scale of what happened. The procedure for a royal funeral is familiar to the British (the plan for Diana's funeral was called "The Bridge over the Tay" and was originally intended for the Queen Mother). But the death of a British monarch and the ascension of a new head of state is a ritual only a few can remember: three of the Queen's last four prime ministers were born after she ascended the throne. When the queen dies, both houses of parliament will be recalled, people will be released from work earlier, and aircraft pilots will announce the sad news to their passengers.
Even more difficult for the nation will be the realization of the fact that the last link between it and the former greatness of the empire has been lost. One of the historians who gave me an interview and who, like many others, wished to remain anonymous, said: “Oh, she will take everything. We were told that Churchill's funeral was a requiem for Britain as great power. But in fact, everything will end with the departure of Elizabeth.
“We were told that Churchill's funeral was a requiem for Britain as a great power. But in fact, everything will end with the departure of Elizabeth.
Films with her participation will remind us how different was the country that she inherited. One piece of newsreel will be played over and over again - from her 21st birthday in 1947, when the young queen was vacationing with her parents in Cape Town. She was 6,000 miles from home, but within the British Empire. The princess is sitting at the table at the microphone. The shadow of a tree plays on her shoulder. "I declare that my entire life, whether long or short, will be dedicated to serving you and serving our great imperial family to which we all belong."
And yet this taboo of discussion masks a parallel reality - the next big event in the life of the British nation is actually scheduled by the minute. A 92-year-old woman - the queen will enter that age in April - has an average of 3 years and 3 months to live, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Elizabeth II is nearing the end of her reign at a time of maximum uncertainty about Britain's place in the modern world; at a time when, due to internal political tensions, the kingdom is close to destruction. Her death will also unleash internal destabilizing forces: Camille, who will become queen, the new old man king, and the bleak future of the Commonwealth countries - in more of her own invention (the Queen's title of "Head of the Commonwealth" is not hereditary). For example, in Australia, both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition support the country's transition to a republican system.
Cope with all these difficulties and will be the next main task Windsors. This is partly why the royal funeral and all subsequent ceremonies will be so massive. The order of succession is only part of the job. Often the monarchs themselves took part in organizing the ceremonies. Queen Victoria compiled a list of the contents of her coffin in 1875. The funeral of the Queen Mother was rehearsed for 22 years. And Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, personally compiled the summer and winter menus for his memorial dinner. “'London Bridge' is the blueprint for the Queen's departure. It's part of the story," one of her courtiers remarked.
Unforeseen circumstances should not be and will not be. If the Queen dies abroad, BAe 146 from the Queen's Squadron will take off from Norholt with a coffin on board. The Royal Undertakers at Leverton & Sons always have a so-called "coffin on call" ready for royal emergencies. George V and George VI were buried at Sandringham Manor, Norfolk. If the queen dies visiting their graves there, her body will be delivered to London by car within a couple of days.
But the most elaborate plans are made in case the Queen dies at Balmoral in Scotland, where she spends three months of the year. This will set off a wave of exclusively Scottish rituals. First, the Queen's body will rest in the smallest of her palaces - Holyrood in Edinburgh, guarded by royal archers in their traditional eagle-feathered hats. The body would then be carried along the so-called royal mile to St. Giles' Cathedral for service, and then placed aboard the royal train at Waverley station for a sad voyage along the east coast.
If the Queen dies abroad, BAe 146 from the Queen's Squadron will take off from Norholt with a coffin on board.
Each of the scenarios involves the return of the Queen's body to the throne room at Buckingham Palace, which overlooks the northwest corner of the courtyard. There will be an altar, a veil, a royal standard, and four grenadiers: bearskin hats tilted down, rifles pointed at the floor. Personnel hired by the queen over 50 years ago will scurry through the corridors, following procedures that he knows by heart.
"Your professionalism takes precedence over emotion because there is work to be done," said one of the royal funeral veterans. There will be no time for mourning, nor for thinking about what lies ahead. Charles will bring many of his own staff with him once he begins to rule. “Keep in mind,” said one courtier, “we are all here and so we are working much more than the time allotted to us.”
Outside, news teams will gather in designated areas opposite the Canada Gate, near the start of Green Park. “In front of me lies a book with instructions 5-6 centimeters thick,” said during our telephone conversation one of the television directors who will cover the ceremony. - Everything is planned. Everyone knows what to do." Flags will be lowered across the country, and the silence will be interrupted from time to time by the ringing of bells.
In 1952, "Big Tom" called from the top of St. Paul's Cathedral every minute for two hours after the news was announced. The bells of Westminster Abbey also rang, as well as the Sevastopol bell, taken from the Crimea during the Crimean War and ringing only on the occasion of the death of the monarch. In 1952, he called 56 times - once for every year of the life of George VI.
First plans for London bridge” dates back to the early 1960s, and since then 2-3 meetings have been held every year, invariably involving participants from different areas(police, firemen, army, television) and changing locations. The plan is updated every time, removing all previous versions. Various specific knowledge is also shared with the participants. For example, the slow march from St James's Doors to Westminster Hall takes exactly 28 minutes. Or, for example, the coffin should have a false lid to fit all the royal jewels.
In theory, everything is carefully planned. But there are things that will require Charles' decision just a few hours after the queen's death. “Everything must be approved and signed by the Duke of Norfolk and the King,” one of the officials told me. Much of the work on London Bridge in recent years has focused on the process of Charles' ascension to the throne. “In fact, two things will happen at the same time: farewell to one monarch and the ascension to the throne of another,” said one of Charles's advisers. The new king's first address to the nation is scheduled for the evening of his mother's death.
In the first 48 hours, the phones of all major state institutions will be torn with calls - the last time the monarch died so long ago that most national organizations will be at a loss. And although the official advice for everyone is the same as last time - to continue minding your own business, not everyone will follow it. If the queen dies during the Royal Ascot race, it will be cancelled. The Marylbone Cricket Club said they were insured against such an event. The National Theater will cancel performances if the sad news arrives before 4 p.m. and continue them if later. All games, including golf, in the royal parks will be cancelled.
On D+1 (the day after the Queen's death), the flags will be raised again and at 11 a.m. Charles will be proclaimed king. The Council of Succession, convened in the main hall of St. James's Palace, long preceded Parliament. The council of spiritual and temporal lords has its origins in the Great Anglo-Saxon Assembly over a thousand years ago. Theoretically, all 670 current members of the Privy Council, from Jeremy Corbyn to Ezekiel Alebois, the former prime minister of the Solomon Islands, are invited, but the hall in the palace can only accommodate about 150 people. In 1952, the Queen was one of only two women present at her own proclamation.
Senior Civil Servant Richard Tilruk will read the official proclamation of accession, and Charles, as new king fulfills his first duty by swearing to defend the crown of Scotland and mentioning the heavy duty that now fell on his shoulders. After his speech, trumpeters from the King's Guard will leave the cathedral and blow thrice in honor of the new monarch, and Thomas Woodcock, the head of the Garter's King of Arms (the official salary of £49.07 has not changed since 1830), will begin the ritual speech of the proclamation of King Charles III. In 1952, the event was covered with just four cameras. This time the TV audience will be in the billions.
But the announcements are just getting started. From St. Jace's Cathedral, the King of Arms of the Garter and half a dozen heralds, dressed like actors from an expensive production of Shakespeare, will solemnly march to the statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square, which is considered the center of London, and read the news again. In Hyde Park, they will give a 7-minute salute from 41 guns. “There is not a single concession to modernity in this ceremony,” one former courtier told me. Tricorne hats and horses will be everywhere. Therefore, one of the things that TV people are afraid of is smartphones: every second person in the crowd will hold a phone, which can spoil the historical picture.
Every second in the crowd will hold a smartphone, which can spoil the historical picture.
Following Charles's proclamation at St James's Cathedral, the new monarch will embark on a nationwide tour, stopping in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff to attend memorial services for his mother and, in a new role, meet with the heads of state under him.
Over the years, the art of royal spectacle was more characteristic of other dynasties: Italians, Russians and Habsburgs. British ritual events have always been a complete failure. For example, at the funeral of Princess Charlotte, the undertakers were drunk. Ten years later, during the funeral of the Duke of York in St George's Chapel, it was so cold that George Conning, the Foreign Secretary, contracted rheumatic fever, and the Bishop of London died altogether. “We have never seen such a motley, such an awkward, such a disgustingly made-up dead man,” people told The Times correspondent at the funeral of George IV in 1830. At Victoria's coronation a few years later, too, there wasn't much to write about. The clergy were confused in words, the singing itself was terrible, and the royal jewelers made the coronation ring on the wrong finger. “In some nations, solemn ceremonies are a gift to the nation,” wrote the Marquess of Salisbury in 1860. “In England, everything is exactly the opposite.”
A death freak, Queen Victoria planned her own funeral with style. But it was her son, Edward VII, who contributed greatly to the revival of royal ceremonial. He turned the State Opening of Parliament and military exercises into celebrations with elaborate attire and decorations, and he also resurrected the medieval ritual of lying in state, when the body of a deceased monarch is displayed in a building so that people can say goodbye. In 1932, George V started a tradition that continues to this day by giving the nation's first royal Christmas speech over the radio, which was written for him by Rudyard Kipling.
Elizabeth II, for all her practicality and lack of sentiment, perfectly understands the theatrical power of the crown. “I have to be seen to be believed in,” she once said. And, no doubt, her funeral will cause a massive emotional wave. “It seems to me that the death of the queen will increase patriotic sentiment,” one historian told me. “And as a result, it will increase support for Brexit.”
“It seems to me that the death of the queen will increase patriotic sentiment,” one historian told me. “And as a result, it will increase support for Brexit.”
The wave of these feelings will help to cope with some of the uncomfortable facts of the transfer of the throne. Camilla's restoration as Duchess of Cornwall was a quiet success for the monarchy, but her rise as queen will show just how far it can go. Since 2005, when Camilla married Charles, her official status has always been "princess consort". A status that has no historical or legal significance. But all this will change with the death of Elizabeth. By law, Camilla will become queen - a title always awarded to the wives of kings. There are no other options. According to current plans, King Charles will present his wife to the public as queen the day after the death of his mother.
The Commonwealth countries are another snag. In 1952, during the last change of monarch in the structure of the British Empire, at that time there were only eight members of the new organization. Sixty-five years later, it has 36 republics, which the queen faithfully visited throughout her reign and which now contain a third of the world's population. But the problem is that the status of the head of the Commonwealth is not inherited and there is no procedure for electing the next head.
For several years, the palace had quietly tried to secure Charles's succession as head of the bloc in the absence of any other obvious option. Julia Gillard, the former prime minister of Australia, said last October that Christopher Geidt, the Queen's private secretary, visited her in February 2013 to ask for support for the idea. Canada and New Zealand this course has since been adopted, although the title itself is unlikely to be included in the list of titles that will be listed at the proclamation of King Charles. This will be part of a low-key international lobbying that will begin as London fills with diplomats and presidents in the days after the Queen's death.
During the nine days leading up to the funeral, thousands of final preparations will take place. Soldiers will march along planned procession routes. Prayers will be again rehearsed. At D+1, Westminster Hall will be closed and cleaned to a shine, and its stone floor will be covered with a kilometer and a half of carpets. Candles will be brought from the abbey. The streets around will turn into places for ceremonies. 10 bearers of the royal coffin will be selected, who will begin to train somewhere in the barracks far from human eyes. The number of porters is determined by the material of the coffin - it is customary for members of the royal family to be buried in coffins made of lead. Diana's coffin, for example, weighed a quarter of a ton.
It is customary for members of the royal family to be buried in lead coffins. Diana's coffin, for example, weighed a quarter of a ton.
At D+4, the coffin will be carried to Westminster Hall, where it will lie for four days in a hearse draped in purple cloth. King Charles will return from his UK tour to lead the mourners. Orb, scepter and imperial crown will be fixed on the coffin, and the soldiers will be on guard. Then the doors will be opened to the crowd, and a stream of people will pour in, interrupted only for an hour a day. About 300 thousand people came to say goodbye to George VI. The line itself stretched for 6 kilometers. In the case of the queen, the palace expects at least half a million applicants.
Under the chestnut roof of the hall, everything will seem fantastically ordered, measured and calculated to the centimeter, because it will be so. Four soldiers will stand motionless in shifts of 20 minutes, and two soldiers will be side by side in reserve, always ready to change. The officer, the eldest of the four, will stand at the feet of the late queen, while the youngest will be placed at her head. The wreaths on the coffin will be updated every day. When Churchill was lying in this hall in 1965, the ballroom of the nearby St Ermin's Hotel was turned into a replica of Westminster Hall so that soldiers could hone their movements before going on duty. In 1936, the four sons of George V revived the tradition of The Prince's Vigil, when members of the royal family arrive unannounced and also stand guard, replacing soldiers.
Before dawn on the ninth day, the day of the funeral, in a quiet hall, all jewelry will be removed from the coffin and given to be cleaned. In 1952, it took three jewelers about two hours to clean the jewelry from the dust accumulated during this time. For the majority of the population, this day will be a day off. Shops will be closed. The stock exchange will not open either. And the night before, services will be held in churches throughout the country.
At exactly 9 am, the silence will be broken by the ringing of Big Ben. The distance from Westminster Hall to the abbey is only a few hundred meters. This ritual will seem familiar to everyone, despite being relatively new: the Queen will be the first British monarch since 1760 to be buried in the abbey. Two thousand guests will be waiting for the procession inside.
When the coffin reaches the doors of the abbey at 11 o'clock, the whole country will be quiet. Railway stations will stop announcing flights. Buses will stop and their drivers will step onto the side of the road. In 1952, at this time, all passengers of the London - New York flight rose from their seats and bowed their heads, flying over Canada at an altitude of over 5 kilometers.
Inside the abbey, the archbishop will speak. When the coffin arrives, it will be placed on the green cart used to bury the Queen's father, his father, and his father's father. 138 sailors from the Royal Navy will carry the coffin through the streets. The tradition began in 1901 when the horses involved in the funeral procession for Queen Victoria intended to escape, and a group of young sailors stepped in to take their place.
In 2002, a Lancaster bomber and two Spitfires flew over the Queen Mother's motorcade, flapping their wings in respect. From Hyde Park Corner, the hearse will travel 37 kilometers on the way to Windsor Castle, where the bodies of all British monarchs are buried. The queen's staff will be waiting for her, standing on the lawn. Then the gates of the monastery will close and the cameras will stop broadcasting. Inside the chapel, an elevator will descend into the royal crypt and King Charles will drop a handful of red earth from a silver bowl.
Translation by Ton Travkin.
