The British Monarchy

2023 will see the coronation of King Charles III as the United Kingdom’s thirteenth monarch, and the sixty-second King of England. For anyone under 70, this will be the first British coronation they have seen. For them, Queen Elizabeth II personified the monarchy. Her death has consequently sparked much interest in the institution and its role in modern Britain. Because of this, UK in a Changing Europe and the Constitution Unit have come together to try to explain the role of the modern monarchy. This report attempts to explain what the monarchy does, how it does it, and to place it in its historical and comparative context. We have solicited contributions not only from those who study the monarchy but also from those studying wider UK politics and society, who have looked at the institution from their own unique perspectives.