Our modern Constitutional Monarchy gives us a Queen who is:

• an impartial symbolic Head of State above politics, commercial and factional interests
• a focus for national unity, national awards and honours and national institutions
• a Head of State whom we share with 16 other independent countries because she is their Queen too and that links us all together amazingly and most valuably
• the Head of the Commonwealth because all 53 countries recognise her as this and so she is a special unifying symbol for them too
• the centrepiece of colourful non-political ceremonial and national celebrations
• separate from the Head of Government (the Prime Minister), unlike in some countries where the two are combined, often with difficulty
• able to give impartial non-political support to the work of a wide range of different types of organizations, faiths, charities, artists, craftsmen etc
• a Head of State completely under the democratic control of Parliament but not having to change every few years in divisive elections
• at the head of a Royal Family who can share the duties and represent the Queen
• a constant, lasting symbolic head of the country with links back through our whole history and assured lines of continuity into the future
• a worldwide well-known and respected symbol of our country carrying out State Visits and goodwill tours in other countries
• For more information on the Royal Family visit the Royal website at www.royal.gov.uk