Who Can Be King Of England?

The laws governing succession to the British throne are determined by descent, sex, legitimacy, and religion. The Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 restrict succession to legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover who are in communion with the Church of England.

The United Kingdom is one of the Commonwealth realms, which are sovereign states that share the same person as a monarch and the same order of succession. In 2011, the prime ministers of the then 16 realms agreed to amend the rules of succession, abandoning male-preference primogeniture and lifting the ban on marriages to Catholics. The monarch still needs to be in communion with the Church of England.

The current monarch, King Charles III, ascended the throne in 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Charles' heir apparent is his eldest son, William, Prince of Wales.

The role of the monarch in the UK government

The United Kingdom has one of the world's oldest forms of government – a constitutional monarchy. This means that while the sovereign is the head of state, the ability to make and pass legislation lies with the elected parliament.

The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022. The law governing succession to the throne is determined by descent, sex, legitimacy, and religion. Under common law, the Crown is inherited by a sovereign's children or by a childless sovereign's nearest collateral line.

The monarch has functions as both head of state and head of the nation. As head of state, the King's main functions are to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers, open new sessions of parliament, and give royal assent to bills passed by parliament, signifying that they have become law. The King also chairs monthly meetings of the Privy Council, approves Orders in Council, receives ambassadors, and makes other appointments such as senior judges. He holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister and meets regularly with other senior officials.

As head of the nation, the King acts as a figurehead and a focus for national identity, unity, and pride. He gives a sense of stability and continuity, officially recognises success and excellence, and supports the ideal of voluntary service. The King carries out hundreds of public engagements each year, including national occasions such as Remembrance Day and Trooping The Colour, as well as visits to all parts of the UK to recognise and support the work of local public services and voluntary organisations. The King and other members of the royal family are patrons of over 1,000 charities and organisations in the UK and the Commonwealth.

The monarch also has a unique cultural role, serving as an unofficial brand ambassador for British interests and values abroad, increasing tourism, and promoting charities throughout civil society. The Crown is also an integral part of the institution of Parliament, with the King playing a constitutional role in opening and dissolving Parliament and approving bills before they become law.

The line of succession to the British throne

The current monarch of the United Kingdom is King Charles III, who ascended the throne on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother, on 8 September 2022. The line of succession then continues with:

• William, Prince of Wales (b. 1982) – eldest son of King Charles III
• Prince George of Wales (b. 2013) – eldest child of William, Prince of Wales
• Princess Charlotte of Wales (b. 2015) – second child of William, Prince of Wales
• Prince Louis of Wales (b. 2018) – third child of William, Prince of Wales
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (b. 1984) – younger son of King Charles III
• Prince Archie of Sussex (b. 2019) – eldest child of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
• Princess Lilibet of Sussex (b. 2021) – second child of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
• Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960) – second son of Queen Elizabeth II
• Princess Beatrice (b. 1988) – eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York
• Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (b. 2021) – daughter of Princess Beatrice
• Princess Eugenie (b. 1990) – second daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York
• August Brooksbank (b. 2021) – son of Princess Eugenie
• Ernest Brooksbank (b. 2023) – second child of Princess Eugenie
• Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1964) – youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II
• James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex (b. 2007) – son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
• Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2003) – daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
• Anne, Princess Royal (b. 1950) – second-eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II
• Peter Phillips (b. 1977) – eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and son of Anne, Princess Royal
• Savannah Phillips (b. 2010) – eldest child of Peter Phillips
• Isla Phillips (b. 2012) – second child of Peter Phillips
• Mrs. Michael Tindall (b. 1981) – third child of Princess Anne, known as Zara Tindall
• Mia Tindall (b. 2014) – first child of Zara Tindall
• Lena Tindall (b. 2018) – second child of Zara Tindall
• Lucas Tindall (b. 2021) – third child of Zara Tindall

The basis for the succession was determined in the 17th century, with the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701). The Act of Settlement laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia, the Electress of Hanover and granddaughter of James I, are eligible to succeed. The monarch must also be in communion with the Church of England, swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland, and promise to uphold the Protestant succession.

The history of the monarchy in the UK

The Early Monarchs

The origins of the British monarchy can be traced back to the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland. Over time, these kingdoms consolidated, and by the 10th century, England and Scotland had emerged as unified kingdoms. Egbert, who ruled Wessex from 827 to 839, is often considered the first monarch to establish control over all of Anglo-Saxon England.

The Norman Conquest

In 1066, England was conquered by the Normans, led by William, Duke of Normandy. This marked a significant turning point in the history of the monarchy, as William centralised power and established a new feudal system. The Norman Conquest also led to the gradual expansion of Anglo-Norman control over Wales and the establishment of the Lordship of Ireland.

The Magna Carta and the English Reformation

The power of the English monarchy was significantly curtailed by the Magna Carta, signed in 1215. This document guaranteed the rights and liberties of the nobility and placed limits on the monarch's authority. In the 16th century, the English and Scottish monarchs played a central role in the religious English and Scottish Reformations, which further shaped the role and power of the monarchy.

The Union of the Crowns

In 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I, the monarchy in England and Scotland were united under a single sovereign, James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England. This marked the beginning of the Stuart dynasty, which would rule through a period of great political and religious turmoil.

The English Civil War and the Interregnum

The conflict between the monarchy and Parliament came to a head in the English Civil War (1642-1649), which resulted in the execution of King Charles I and the temporary abolition of the monarchy. The monarchy was restored in 1660 with the return of Charles II, but tensions between the crown and Parliament continued.

The Glorious Revolution and the Act of Settlement

In 1688, James II, a Roman Catholic, was deposed by his Protestant opponents, who invited his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, to take the throne. This event, known as the Glorious Revolution, further limited the power of the monarchy and established key principles of parliamentary supremacy. The Act of Settlement in 1701 further restricted the succession to the throne to Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover.

The Union of Great Britain and the Expansion of the British Empire

In 1707, the kingdoms of England and Scotland were formally merged to create the Kingdom of Great Britain, with Queen Anne as the first monarch of the new unified kingdom. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British monarchy continued to evolve, with the expansion of the British Empire and the union with Ireland in 1801. The monarchy played a key role in the Empire, with the monarch serving as the nominal head.

The Modern Monarchy

The 20th century saw significant changes for the monarchy, including the decline of the British Empire and the evolution of the Commonwealth of Nations. The monarchy also adapted to social and political changes, with the monarchy becoming more of a constitutional role, with limited powers. The reign of Queen Elizabeth II, from 1952 to 2022, was a significant period, marked by social and cultural changes and the continued evolution of the monarchy's role. Following her death in 2022, her son, Charles III, ascended the throne, becoming the current monarch of the United Kingdom.

The powers of the monarch

The monarch also has a role as the head of the nation, acting as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, giving a sense of stability and continuity, officially recognising success and excellence, and supporting the ideal of voluntary service. This role is fulfilled through speeches, honours, and visits to the armed forces, schools, hospitals, charities, and local organisations.

The monarch's powers include the royal prerogative, which covers the ability to appoint and dismiss ministers, regulate the civil service, issue passports, declare war, make peace, direct the actions of the military, and negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements. The monarch is also the Head of the Armed Forces and accredits British ambassadors and receives foreign heads of missions.

The monarch's power is limited by the need to act within the constraints of convention and precedent, and by the requirement to exercise prerogative powers only on the advice of ministers responsible to Parliament, usually through the Prime Minister. The monarch's role has evolved over time, with the Magna Carta and other laws reducing the monarch's political powers.

The process of royal assent

Royal Assent is the final step required for a parliamentary bill to become law. It is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In the United Kingdom, the Sovereign may appear personally in the House of Lords or appoint Lords Commissioners to announce that royal assent has been granted at a ceremony held at the Palace of Westminster. However, royal assent is usually granted in a less ceremonial manner by letters patent.

While the monarch has the right to refuse Royal Assent, this has not happened since 1708, and Royal Assent is now considered a formality. Once a bill is presented to the Sovereign, they have the following formal options:

• Grant Royal Assent, thereby making the bill an Act of Parliament.
• Delay the bill's assent through the use of reserve powers, thereby invoking a veto.
• Refuse Royal Assent on the advice of their ministers.

The granting of Royal Assent is now seen as a certification that a bill has passed all established parliamentary procedures. The monarch would only veto a bill on ministerial advice, and only in a dire political emergency or if the bill sought to subvert the democratic basis of the constitution.

Historically, the Sovereign was always required to give Royal Assent in person before Parliament. The last time this occurred was during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1854. The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 allowed for delegation of the power to Lords Commissioners, and this is now the standard method, with the exception of an annual ceremony at the end of the parliamentary session.

The Law Governing Who Becomes King of England

The current monarch of the United Kingdom is King Charles III, who ascended the throne on 8 September 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Succession to the British throne is determined by descent, sex, legitimacy, and religion. Under common law, the Crown is inherited by a sovereign's children or by a childless sovereign's nearest collateral line.

The Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 restrict succession to the throne to the legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover, who are in "communion with the Church of England". The monarch must also be a member of the Church of England. Since 2015, male-preference cognatic primogeniture has been abandoned, meaning that males born after 28 October 2011 no longer take precedence over females in the line of succession.

The monarch is the head of state and the role is largely ceremonial and non-partisan. The monarch's authority over the government, known as "His/Her Majesty's Government", is limited by laws enacted in Parliament and by convention and precedent. The monarch's role includes functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister.

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