Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The present United Kingdom’s monarch is  Elizabeth II, born on April 21, 1926. The Queen’s full title is “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories. Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, etc, etc.”

The Queen is the personal symbol of the State and of national unity. The Queen’s birthday is today officially celebrated early in June by Trooping the Colour, when the Queen personally reviews the troops drawn up on the Horse Guards Parade. The Queen’s Birthday is also celebrated as Commonwealth Day.

The Queen is very rich, as are other members of the royal family. The Queen’s image appears on stamps, notes and coins.

In old times the monarch personally exercised supreme executive, legislative and judicial power. Today everything is done in the Queen’s name. It is her government, her armed forces, her law courts and so on. She appoints all the Ministers, including the Prime Minister. Everything is done, however, on the advice of the elected Government, and the monarch takes no part in the decision- making process. That’s why it is said that nowadays the Queen reigns but does not rule.

There are still many important public functions that the Queen performs.

The Queen summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament. Normally she opens the new session with a speech from the throne, which outlines her Government’s programme. Before a bill, which has passed all its stages in both Houses of Parliament, becomes legal it must receive the Royal Assent. The Queen appoints or dismisses Government ministers, judges, and members of diplomatic corps. As temporal head of the established Church of England, she makes appointments to the leading positions in the Church.

In addition to being head of all armed services, the Queen is Colonel-in-Chief of several regiments and corps in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. The Queen has the power to conclude treaties, to declare war and to make peace, to recognize foreign states and governments, and to annex and cede territory.

One of the most important duties the Sovereign performs is to act as a host to the heads of States of Commonwealth and other countries when they visit the United Kingdom. The Queen confers honours, she presents annually some 2.200 orders, decorations and medals. The Queen pardons those convicted of crimes under English law.

Hundreds of royal visits to various parts of the country for public functions keep the royal family in close touch with new development. These are also royal concert performances in aid of charity and visits to schools, universities, hospitals and factories.

It is customary at Christmas for the Queen to speak on radio and television to all people of the Commonwealth as their head. The Queen lives in Buckingham palace.