Can the Queen declare war?

Constitutional background
The legal right to send the UK armed forces to war is part of the royal prerogative. These powers were originally the 'personal powers' of the monarch, but over time a convention has been established that most are used on advice of government ministers.
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Can the Queen declare war on a country?

Not only can the Queen declare war on other countries, she's the only one in the United Kingdom with the power to do so. She doesn't have absolute power by any means, though.
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Can the Queen overrule Parliament?

A dissolution is allowable, or necessary, whenever the wishes of the legislature are, or may fairly be presumed to be, different from the wishes of the nation." The monarch could force the dissolution of Parliament through a refusal of royal assent; this would very likely lead to a government resigning.
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What powers does the Queen of England have?

The Queen plays a constitutional role in opening and dissolving Parliament and approving Bills before they become law.
  • Parliament. The highest legislative authority in the United Kingdom. ...
  • Crown. ...
  • Appointing a government. ...
  • Opening and dissolving Parliament. ...
  • Queen's Speech. ...
  • Royal Assent.
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Does the Queen have control over the military?

Queen Elizabeth II is both Head of State and Head of the Armed Services. When soldiers join the British Army they swear an Oath of Allegiance not to the government of the day, but to the Queen and her successors. However, ultimate authority on the Army's deployment and use rests with Parliament and 'the people'.
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Can the British queen declare war?



What is the Queen not allowed to do?

Dismiss a prime minister. While she can't vote or state her political opinions publicly, the Queen serves as an overarching figure to the British government. It'd have to be an extreme case for her to act, but under what is known as royal prerogative, the Queen can dismiss a prime minister. Go without a last name.
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Who decides if we go to war UK?

In the United Kingdom, the monarch is the Head of the Armed Forces and the decision to deploy the armed forces in situations of armed conflict is currently a prerogative power.
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Is Queen Elizabeth nice?

She's a 'good, Christian lady'

According to Paul Burrell, who was Queen Elizabeth's footman and later became Princess Diana's butler, HM is a “good and kind” woman. “I stood beside her and lived with her for 11 years and I can tell you who the queen is. She is a good, kind Christian lady,” Butler said.
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What can the Queen actually do?

Firstly, it is the Queen's duty to open Parliament every May in the State Opening ceremony. She leads the event at the Palace of Westminster, and must give a speech to both the House of Lords and Commons. The Queen opens the Parliamentary sessions, and she can also dissolve the Parliament — completely.
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How powerful is the Queen?

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most famous and admired people on Earth. As the nominal leader of the United Kingdom since 1952—making her the country's longest-serving monarch—her influence is felt the world over. But despite that enormous influence, the Queen holds no real power in British government.
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Can the British monarchy be overthrown?

If the sovereign refuses her/his assent, the Government resigns, triggering a General Election. The result is the same - a huge majority for the republicans. In theory the monarch could ask anyone in Parliament to form a Government, but this would almost certainly not work, given the size of the (now) Opposition).
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When did British royalty lose power?

On 7 February 1649, the office of King was formally abolished. The Civil Wars were essentially confrontations between the monarchy and Parliament over the definitions of the powers of the monarchy and Parliament's authority.
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Can a Queen retire?

It is possible for the Queen to increasingly step back from public life while remaining on the throne and this is the most likely path if her age or health impacts the amount of work she can do.
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Has Britain lost a war?

Battle of the Somme, 1916

They were so confident that they told their troops to simply walk across no man's land instead of dashing from cover to cover. The British lost around 20,000 soldiers on the first day of the battle. Over the next three months, both the Brits and the Germans lost around half a million men each.
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Do the Royals have any power?

The royal prerogative includes the powers 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.
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Who can declare war?

The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II.
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Does the Queen get paid?

The Queen has a private income from her personal investment portfolio, though her personal wealth and income are not known.
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Does the Queen ever cook?

Does the Queen ever cook for herself? McGrady says that while Prince Philip was an “amazing chef” and regularly enjoyed cooking on the grill and having family BBQs on the Balmoral estate, and the younger royals like William, Kate, Meghan and Harry, all enjoy cooking, the Queen herself stays out of the kitchen.
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Is the Queen intelligent?

Queen Elizabeth II was never exceptionally intelligent or charming, despite holding the highest honor in England. Thus, Elizabeth had to learn how to navigate the world of politics, all while feeling somewhat unprepared for the job.
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What does the Queen eat?

What does the Queen eat for dinner? The monarch's supper tastes are varied and include a combination of meat or fish and vegetables. "For a main course she loved game, things like Gaelic steak, fillet steak with a mushroom whisky sauce, especially if we did it with venison," Darren has revealed.
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Can UK make you go to war?

As it stands, there is no conscription legislation in the UK. Only those who wish to pursue a career in the military join the force. This mean that it is unlikely you will be called up for service under current legislation.
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Can the UK force you to go to war?

READ MORE. While there is no forced conscription currently active in the UK, Parliament could pass a law reestablishing it during a time of national crisis. The same goes for the US, which abandoned the draft in 1973.
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What war is the UK in now?

What are the Current British Wars and Conflicts? Global War on Terror (2001-Present)–Britain and many other nations around the world are engaged in military, political, economic, and diplomatic efforts to combat Islamic Militancy in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
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Can Royals go to jail?

Members of the Royal Household cannot be arrested in civil proceedings, and cannot be arrested in the presence of the Queen or anywhere near or in Buckingham Palace.
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Who can touch the Queen?

Royal protocol dictates that one must not touch the Queen unless she offers her hand first. The Trump White House did not respond to a request for comment from Insider on the matter.
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