The monarch
Britain since 1945
Britain's head of state does not run the country day to day. The monarch appoints the Prime Minister, inviting whoever leads the party with the most MPs after an election, and keeps regular meetings with that Prime Minister while staying outside party politics.
Queen Elizabeth II became queen on her father's death in 1952 and remained on the throne for seventy years. In 2012 she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, marking sixty years as monarch, with events held across the country. She died in 2022, and that same year her elder son became King Charles III.
He now carries out the ceremonial duties the role has always held: opening each new session of Parliament with a speech, receiving ambassadors and visiting heads of state, and giving the country a steady, non-political figure while governments and Prime Ministers change around him.
What to remember
| Queen Elizabeth II becoming queen | 1952 She reigned from her father's death in 1952 until she died in 2022. |
|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee | 2012 Sixty years as queen. The clock tower at Parliament is named the Elizabeth Tower in its honour. |
| Queen Elizabeth II's death | 2022 She died on 8 September 2022. Her eldest son, Charles, is now King Charles III. |
| King Charles III becoming king | 2022 His heir apparent is his elder son, William, Prince of Wales. |
| Prince Edward becoming the Duke of Edinburgh | 2023 On his 59th birthday, by his eldest brother King Charles III, who formerly held the title. |
| Became queen in 1952 | Queen Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
| Became king in 2022 | King Charles III |
Everything in Britain since 1945or the whole course, from the beginning