What may come as a surprise to many is that the Queen is not actually a powerless figure in the world of British politics. While her role is almost entirely ceremonial in modern times, the Queen does and technically can exercise several royal powers. For example, the responsibility for opening Parliament every year is solely the Queen’s, and, if she wished, she could also choose to dissolve Parliament completely. Furthermore, she wields a variety of other powers, such as the ability to pardon any criminal she chooses, and to declare war on any country she chooses. In fact, she is the only person in the United Kingdom with the power to declare war. By extension, she is also the sole Commander-in-Chief of the United Kingdom’s entire military.
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