1. Monarchy -> symbol of union:

- William I Conqueror was the the first monarch of whole country,

- the continuity of power was broken from 1649 to 1660 (republic – Cromwell).

2. The present Queen:

- Elizabeth II is Queen from 1953,

- the House of Windsor – the title was changed from German name: “Saxe-Coburg-Gotha”.

3.The Royal Title:

Elizabeth II, 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 Commonwealth, Defender of The Faith.

4. She is legally:

-head of executive (government),

- part of legislative,

- head of judiciary,

- head of Church (only the Church of England),

- head of armed forces,

- head of commonwealth

(in practice she doesn’t have such big power)

5. The seat of the Monarchy of Great Britain:

• Buckingham Palace (the principal residence and office of the British monarch),

• Windsor Castle (the residence of the British monarch which is used mainly in weekend),

• The Palace of Holyroodhouse (the official residence of the monarch in Scotland),

• Balmoral Castle (not official residence - one of the Queen's private residences).

6. Royal family:

• Charles (Prince of Wales – the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II),

• William, Henry (grandchildren of Queen, sons of Charles),

• Anne (Princess Royal – only daughter of Queen),

• Andrew (second son of Queen),

• Edward (the third son of Queen).

7. Queen’s duties:

- she opens and dissolves Parliament,

- she gives Royal Assent,

- she appoints:

• ministers,

• diplomats,

• governors,

• judges,

• officers in the armed forces,

• senior clergy

- she confers:

• peerages,

• knighthoods,

• and other honours:

• ORDER OF THE GARTER,

• ORDER OF THISTLE

• ORDER OF BRITISH EMPIRE

• THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

- she declares war and makes peace,

- she recognizes foreign states and governments,

- she opens the Commonwealth Games (something like Olympics Games),

- she signs documents and treaties.

8. Customs and traditions connected with the Royal Family:

- Queen’s Official Birthday – 2^nd Saturday of June (it is not day of Queen’s true birthday, it was changed because it is better time, better weather to celebrate it than real date of it),

- Trooping the Colour (ceremony performed by regiments of the British and the Commonwealth armies),

- The Garter Ceremony (connected with Order of the Garter in Windsor Castle),

- The Royal Maundy (connected with Easter, the day before Good Friday),

- Christmas Speech (the Queen makes a speech on radio and TV),

- The Changing of the Guard (every day custom - in front of Buckingham Palace),

- State Opening of Parliament (from Buckingham Palace to House of Lord where she makes a speech),

- Swan Upping (in July).

9. Financing:

- 75% Government (of all costs),

- Civil List (kind of salary for Queen and other royal members of family),

- Private Purse (private possessions of Queen – she pays taxes of these).