Session 5. The King reigns but does not rule
Key question: If the King has no real power, what is he for?
What do you remember from session 4? Answer alone in five minutes, then check.
1. Give the modern spelling of Parlyament and Kingdome.
2. Name the King and Queen who accepted the Bill of Rights.
3. Name one thing the King cannot do without Parliament since 1689.
Show the recap answers
- Parliament, Kingdom.
- William III and Mary II.
- Suspend laws, levy taxes, keep an army in peace time.
Key words first
- to reign: to be king or queen
- to rule: to govern, to take decisions
- dignified: worthy of respect, ceremonial
- efficient: here: the part that really governs
- Royal Assent: the monarch's formal agreement that turns a bill into an Act
- a formality: something that must be done but changes nothing
Aims
- Understand the difference between reigning and ruling
- Read a short extract from Walter Bagehot (1867)
- Debate: does the UK still need a monarch?
To contrast what the King seems to do with what he really does, and argue in a debate, we need contrast connectors (but, whereas, while, although, however) and the present simple for general truths.
Documents
Document A. Walter Bagehot, The English Constitution (1867)
The King has three rights:
1. to be consulted (asked for his opinion),
2. to encourage,
3. to warn.
Read the original text
Bagehot divided the system into two parts: the “dignified” parts, which win the respect and loyalty of the people (the Crown, the ceremonies), and the “efficient” parts, which actually govern (the Cabinet and the Commons).
“The sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn.”
Source: Walter Bagehot, The English Constitution (1867), Project Gutenberg
Document B. Royal Assent: a formality
A bill becomes a law when the King says yes.
The last time a monarch said no was in 1708.
Read the original text
“Royal Assent is the Monarch's agreement that is required to make a Bill into an Act of Parliament. While the Monarch has the right to refuse Royal Assent, nowadays this does not happen; the last such occasion was in 1708, and Royal Assent is regarded today as a formality.” In 1708, Queen Anne refused her assent to a bill on a militia for Scotland.
Source: UK Parliament, Glossary: Royal Assent · UK Parliament, Key dates 1689 to 1714
Document C. The King's Speech
The King reads the speech.
The Government writes it.
Read the original text
At the State Opening of Parliament, the King reads the King's Speech from the throne in the House of Lords. The speech is written by the Government: it sets out the laws the Government plans to introduce. The latest State Opening took place in May 2026.
Source: GOV.UK, What is the King's Speech and what does it mean for me?
Words in action
EntryReign or rule? Complete.
- The King ______ but does not ______.
- The Prime Minister ______ with the support of the Commons.
- Charles III began to ______ in 2022.
Show the answers
1. reigns, rule. 2. rules. 3. reign.
To say it: Contrast
but = mais.
whereas = alors que.
although = bien que.
EntryChoose: but, whereas, although.
- The King reigns, ______ he does not rule.
- The King reads the speech, ______ the Government writes it.
- ______ the King has the right to refuse Royal Assent, he never does.
Show the answers
1. but. 2. whereas. 3. Although.
Activities
- Read Document A: draw two columns, dignified / efficient, and place the King, the Prime Minister, MPs, the State Opening.
- Document B: why do you think no monarch has refused a law since 1708?
- Document C: who speaks, who writes? Link with Bagehot.
- Debate: Does the UK still need a monarch? B1: agree or disagree with one reason. B2: two structured arguments. C1: answer an opponent's argument (rebuttal). Language: In the debate, answer your opponent with a contrast connector: Although the King ..., ...
Sentence starters
- I think the UK still needs a monarch because ...
- On the other hand, ...
- The King is useful as ...
- I disagree with you because ...
Exercise: Reign or rule?
Complete with reigns, rules, can or cannot.
- The King ______ but does not rule.
- The Prime Minister ______ with the support of the Commons.
- The King ______ warn the Prime Minister in private.
- The King ______ refuse a law today without causing a crisis.
- The King ______ read a speech he did not write.
Show answers
1. reigns. 2. rules. 3. can. 4. cannot. 5. can.
Figures of speech in the documents
“the dignified parts” and “the efficient parts” (Document A); “The King reigns but does not rule”
Two opposite words side by side: dignified / efficient, reigns / rules. This is an antithesis.
EntryFind the two opposed words in Bagehot's text.
Show the answers
dignified and efficient.
Expression task
Debate (activity 4): Does the UK still need a monarch?
EntryOne opinion and one reason, with but.
Tools to use:
- but, whereas, although, however
- to reign / to rule, a formality
- one antithesis
Sentence starters:
- I think the UK still needs a monarch because ...
- Although the King ..., ...
- You say that ..., whereas ...
- However, ...
Show a model answer
Although the King has no real power, I think the UK still needs a monarch. Prime Ministers come and go, whereas the King stays and represents all four nations. You say that Royal Assent is a formality; however, a formality can also be a guarantee: the King reigns, the Government rules, and everyone knows the rules.
Going further (optional)
The formula “le roi règne et ne gouverne pas” was made famous in France by Adolphe Thiers in 1830. Explain in English why a French formula describes the British system so well, and compare with the powers of the French President today.
Lesson plan for the teacher (55 minutes)
| 5 min | Marked recap |
| 10 min | Bagehot: two columns |
| 10 min | Royal Assent and the King's Speech |
| 20 min | Debate |
| 5 min | Summary |
| 5 min | Homework |
List three things the King does and three things he cannot do. Give one example for each.
Help: use the key words and the sentence starters above. Write one idea per line.
Write it in your planner before the bell. It is also posted on the school platform.
Show a model answer
Model answer: The King reads the King's Speech (May 2026); he gives Royal Assent to Acts (the Hereditary Peers Act in March 2026); he meets the Prime Minister every week. He cannot choose the laws, he cannot refuse Royal Assent without a crisis (not since 1708), he cannot take sides in an election.