The Development of the
British Monarchy
Queen and the Armed Services
The monarch is Head of the Armed Forces and it is the monarch alone who
can declare war and peace. (This dates from the times when the monarch was responsible for
raising, maintaining and equipping the Army and Navy, and often leading them into battle.)
These powers, however, cannot now be exercised on the monarch’s own initiative. The Bill
of Rights (1689) declared that “the raising or keeping of a standing army within the
Kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of Parliament, is against the
law”. The monarch’s powers today cannot be exercised except upon the advice of
responsible Ministers.
The existences of the Army (raised as a series of different regiments
by colonels – historically, many of these were not loyal to the Government) and the
Royal Air Force are legally based on the Army and Air Force Acts of 1955 and previous
Parliamentary Acts; their continued existence depends on annual Continuation Orders passed
by Parliament.
On enlistment, the Acts require members of the Army, Air Force and
Royal Marines to take an oath of allegiance to the monarch as Head of the Armed Forces
(those for whom it is against their religion to take oaths and those who are of no
religion, affirm instead of swearing an oath). The Royal Navy was formed hundreds of years
ago, and its existence stems from the sovereign’s prerogative – members of the Navy
have never therefore been required to take the oath. The oath of allegiance is sworn to
the monarch, rather than to Parliament, which might be confused with the political party
in power at the time. This reaffirmation of loyalty to the monarch, as Head of State, also
ensures that the loyalty of servicemen and women as serving members of the Armed Services
(regardless of their personal political beliefs) is not given to any one political party,
but to the country in the form of the Head of State.
The Queen takes a keen interest in all the Armed Services both in the
United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth. She keeps in touch with the work and interests of
the Services through the Chiefs of Staff and her Defence Services Secretary (a serving
officer who is also a member of the Royal Household, who acts as the official link between
The Queen, through her Private Secretary, and the Secretary of State for Defence). The
Queen is regularly briefed by her Ministers. As Princess Elizabeth, she joined the
Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 and thus became the first female member of the Royal
Family to be a full-time active member of the Armed Services. Many royal Princes have
received training in the Services; The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales have
served in the Royal Navy (The Prince also trained in the Royal Air Force as a pilot), and
The Duke of York is a serving officer in the Royal Navy.
The Queen and various other members of the Royal Family hold
appointments and honorary ranks in the Armed Services, both in the United Kingdom and in
the Commonwealth. Such appointments include “special relationships” with certain
ships, honorary colonelcies in Army regiments and corps, and honorary ranks connected with
Royal Air Force stations.
These links are maintained by regular visits by members of the Royal
Family to Service establishments (on occasions such as passing out parades and the
presentations of new Colours) and to ships (usually when they are in port), to meet
Servicemen and women of all ranks and their families, both in this country and overseas.
Queen and Church
 The
Church of England and the Church of Scotland are established Churches. This means that
they are recognised by law as the official Churches of England and Scotland, respectively.
(There are no established Churches in Northern Ireland nor in Wales – they were
disestablished in 1869 in Northern Ireland and 1920 in Wales.) In both England and
Scotland, the established Churches are subject to the regulation of law. The principle of
religious toleration is fully recognised both for those of other creeds and for those
without any religious beliefs.
There is no established Church in any Commonwealth country of which The Queen is monarch;
in the United Kingdom, The Queen’s title includes the words “Defender of the Faith”.
Church of England
 The Church of England, and the monarch’s relation to it, was established
through a series of Parliamentary Acts in the 1530s,which brought about the English
Reformation. Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic Church by denying papal claims to
ecclesiastical or any other jurisdiction, and by declaring, himself rather than the Pope
as Supreme Head of the Church in England. The Preface to the 39 Articles of the Church of
England ascribes the monarch as “being by God”s Ordinance, according to Our just
Title, Defender of the Faith and ... Supreme Governor of the Church of England’. The
monarch must be in communion with the Church of England (i.e. a full, confirmed member)
and, in his or her coronation oath, the monarch promises to maintain the Church.
There are many examples of the relationship between the established
Church and the State. Archbishops and bishops are appointed by The Queen on the advice of
the Prime Minister, who considers the names selected by a Church Commission. They take an
oath of allegiance to The Queen on appointment and may not resign without royal authority.
The connection between Church and State is also symbolised by the fact that the “Lords
Spiritual” (consisting of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and 24 diocesan
bishops) sit in the House of Lords. Parish priests also take an oath of allegiance to The
Queen.
The General Synod (including the bishops, elected representatives from
the clergy and the laity) is the supreme authority of the Church of England. The Queen
opens the Synod after the elections in the dioceses every five years. Since 1919, the
Synod (formerly called the Church) has had the power, delegated by Parliament, to pass
Measures on any matter concerning the Church of England. Following acceptance of the
Measures by both Houses of Parliament (which cannot amend them, nor – by convention –
initiate or discuss ecclesiastical Measures, as members of both Houses do not belong to
the Church of England) the Measures are submitted for Royal Assent and become law. In
addition to legislating for the Church by Measure, the General Synod has the power to
legislate by Canon in its own domestic affairs such as worship and doctrine, but The
Queen’s assent is required for the promulgation of such Canons. Such assent is given on
the Home Secretary’s advice.
Church of Scotland
 In
Scotland, the monarch is required by the 1707 Treaty of Union to preserve the Church of
Scotland (Scotland’s established Church). The monarch takes an oath to preserve the
Church of Scotland at the meeting of the Privy Council immediately following his or her
accession. The Queen is not the Supreme Governor of the Church of Scotland, but an
ordinary member. In Scotland, there is a division of powers by which Church and State are
each supreme in their own sphere; the Church is self-governing in all that concerns its
own activities. Its supreme authority is the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,
presided over by a Moderator chosen each year by the Assembly itself. The Crown is
represented at the Assembly, sometimes by the monarch in person, but more often by a Lord
High Commissioner appointed each year by The Queen. Provided that it acts within the law
of the land, the Assembly has the power to pass resolutions which can have effect without
Royal Assent.
So the function of the monarch is first of all symbolic. Still, it is
politically important. For as someone who reigns but does not rule, the sovereign
separates the ‘magic’ of sovereignty, publicly visible in many ceremonies, from the
power of the executive head of state.
Compiled by Olga Mikityuk
|