While King Charles III welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron to the castle of Windsor for a state visit from July 8 to 10. A question comes back… What is the real place of the royal family in the diplomacy of the United Kingdom?
A monarchy that reigns without governing
The British monarchy has no real executive power for decades. This shift from monarchical power to a parliamentary democracy began in the 17th century with the Glorious revolutionwhich saw the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Since then, the king or the queen has only exercised a symbolic role, ” on behalf of the people“, But without direct political authority.
Constitutionally, the monarch ” advises, warns and encourages“. This means that he or she can give an opinion during private audiences with the Prime Minister, but this opinion has no restrictive nature. All decisions are the elected government.
Even public speeches, like ” toast During state dinners or speaking during international events, are supervised and often co-written with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The king signs the laws, but only because Parliament voted them.
Charles III, a diplomat without power
Charles III, like his predecessors before him, plays a role in so -called soft power diplomacy. During state visits, like that of Emmanuel Macron in this month of July, he serves as Figure of unity, representation, tradition. His role is to ” Put oil in the workings of British diplomacy“, According to the historian Ed Owens. It welcomes, dine, greets and embodies a form of British symbol. However, he decides nothing.
The very example of this visit shows the limits of its influence. It is the British government that decides which heads of state invite, and when. The king is content to sign the invitations and welcome the hosts. He does not participate in political negotiations or strategic decisions on defense, immigration or nuclear. These subjects will be treated, at the summit between governments, far from the splendor of Windsor and the king.
An increasingly questioned institution
If Charles III fluently speaks Frenchwhich gives him an advantage in his exchanges with Emmanuel Macron, he must nevertheless take care to remain neutral. Since his accession to the throne, he has been trying to keep a posture more measured, aware of the limits of its role.
However, support for the monarchy is crumbling, especially among young people. Today, 30% of British say they are favorable to its abolition, against 20% ten years ago. The youth, faced with an economic and social crisis, perceives the monarchy as an expensive vestige of another time. If the king wants to preserve the institution, he must convince of his modernity, while content with a decorative role.
