Essays on British Monarchy

The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom, its dependencies and its overseas territories. The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952. The monarch and their immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic and representational duties. As the monarchy is constitutional, the monarch is limited to non-partisan functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the Prime Minister. The monarch is, by tradition, commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces.The United Kingdom has had a monarchy for over a thousand years. It can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, who claimed descent from the god Woden. The monarchy reached its height under the Norman kings, particularly under King William I, who established many of the traditions and institutions that have continued to the present day.The British monarchy has been through a number of significant changes in recent years. In 1931, the UK Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster, which recognized the autonomy of the British Empire's dominions, including the Dominion of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and Newfoundland. This meant that the British Parliament no longer had the authority to legislate for these countries, though the British monarch remained their head of state.In 1949, the British Nationality Act granted citizenship to people from all over the Commonwealth, including India, Pakistan and other countries that had formerly been part of the British Empire. In 1952, Elizabeth II became the first monarch of the United Kingdom to be crowned in a ceremony televised to a global audience.In recent years, the monarchy has sought to modernize its image and to connect with ordinary people. In 2012, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, became the first royal couple to marry in a civil ceremony. In 2013, the monarchy launched its first official Twitter account.