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The Modern Monarchy of Britain Essay

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When one thinks of Britain, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic figures of the Royal Family. This hallowed line of descendants makes up the British Monarchy, serving above the people of the Commonwealth under the control of Britain. With such fanfare and dignity come an equally great responsibility. While the structure and ceremonial hype surrounding the British Monarchy has remained nearly unchanged since its creation, the role and powers of Britain's current Monarchy is significantly different. The British Monarchy is composed of a King or Queen and their family, whose heirs inherit the throne when the King or Queen dies. The current Royal family is known as the “House of Windsor” and was created in 1917 …show more content…

Each of the children of these members receives a formal title when her or she is married, and until that point is a Prince or Princess (Hoey 4). When the King or Queen dies, the family follows a distinct order of succession. The Monarchy follows a “male primogeniture” system, in which oldest sons are chosen over younger sons, and male children are chosen over females, regardless of age (“About the British Royal Family”). Should there be no direct male heir, a female is made Queen. The spouses of male children who become King are permitted to take the title of Queen; however, the spouses of female children who become Queen are not allowed to take the title of King. Instead, they are given an honorary title of Prince (“The Monarchy”). The obviously most important member of the Royal Family is the King or Queen. Currently, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary holds the title of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her sixtieth anniversary of her coronation on February 6, 2012, making her the second longest ruling Monarch behind Queen Victoria (“The Queen and the UK”). Elizabeth is only the sixth Queen to ever rule over the British Monarchy. She is able to trace her family line back to the first king of England, being the thirty-second great granddaughter of King Alfred (Simpson). Worth approximately £350 million, the Queen also controls several

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