What the King actually does
The nutshell
The King is the UK's head of state, but the King does not run the country. An elected Parliament makes the laws, and the government makes the day-to-day decisions.
Every fact on this page comes from official guides and non-partisan explainers. Each source tag — like CU — opens where a fact comes from.
The basics
What "head of state" means
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The King is the head of state — the person who stands for the whole country. But the King does not run the country. The Constitution Unit at UCL puts it simply. The King reigns, but does not rule, and must follow the government's advice.CU
Opening Parliament and the King's Speech
Once a year the King opens Parliament at an event called the State Opening. The King reads out a speech that lists the government's plans for the year. The King reads the speech, but the government writes it.Parl
Turning a bill into law
Before a new law can start, it needs the King's formal agreement. This is calledRoyal Assent. A bill becomes an Act of Parliament once it gets Royal Assent. A monarch has not refused Royal Assent since 1708, so today it is a formality, a step that always happens.HoC
Staying out of politics
The King stays politically neutral. That means the King does not take sides between parties. Most royal powers, like running the armed forces, are now used by government ministers instead of by the King.IfG
- The King is head of state, but an elected Parliament makes and passes the laws
- Royal Assent turns a bill into law, and it has not been refused since 1708
- At the State Opening the King reads out the government's plans, which the government writes
- The King does not run the government day to day, so the Prime Minister and ministers do that
- The King does not pick the plans in the King's Speech, because the government does
- The King stays politically neutral and follows the government's advice, rather than choosing policy
The deep end6 min
Reigns, but does not rule
In the UK the monarch is head of state, but not head of government. The Constitution Unit at UCL describes the role plainly. The King reigns, but does not rule, and is constitutionally obliged to follow the government's advice. Behind the ceremony, the King is kept in touch with the work of government, with a weekly private meeting with the Prime Minister and daily boxes of government papers.CU
The royal prerogative, used by ministers
Many old powers of the Crown are grouped together as the royal prerogative. According to the Institute for Government, most of these powers are now used by government ministers rather than by the King in person. That includes commanding the armed forces, making treaties and conducting foreign policy. A small number stay with the monarch as reserve powers, and the most important is the power to appoint the Prime Minister.IfG
Royal Assent, and the last refusal
Before a bill passed by Parliament can become law, it needs Royal Assent, the monarch's formal agreement that turns it into an Act of Parliament. The House of Commons Library records that a monarch has not refused Royal Assent since 1708, when Queen Anne refused the Scottish Militia Bill. Because of that long gap, Royal Assent is now treated as a formality rather than a real choice.HoC
Opening Parliament, and forming a government
Each year the King opens a new session of Parliament at the State Opening. The King reads a speech from the throne that sets out the government's plans for the year ahead, though the government, not the King, writes it. After a general election the King also invites the leader of the party with the most MPs to become Prime Minister.Parl
Arguments for and against an unelected head of state are a separate question. The topics on constitutional monarchy and the royal prerogative look at those arguments.