His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a group of advisors to the British Monarch. Most of its important work is done by two committees,
Some laws need to be made by the "King-in-Council", that is at a meeting of the King and the Privy Council. Some jobs are filled by the King in Council too. For example, when the King appoints a new Bishop or Lord-lieutenant he announces his choice at a meeting of the Privy Council.
Once someone is made a member of the Privy Council they are a member for life, but only members of the government are asked to meetings, except for special occasions such as when a new monarch takes the "Accession Oath", a promise to do their best, at a meeting when the Privy Council called the Accession Council [1]
In the past some kings and queens were bored by long meetings of the Privy Council, so they made everyone stand instead of sitting comfortably. The tradition carries on today.
Sometimes the Prime Minister shares information with other politicians on Privy Council Terms. This means that the information must stay secret.
The Law Lords, and retired Law Lords, also form the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. It is the final court of appeal from British colonies an dependent territories, and some commonwealth realms. These countries call it an appeal to The King in Council.
Four republics in the commonwealth also use the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as a court of appeal.
From the Court of Appeal of Brunei the only appeal is to the Sultan of Brunei. The Queen and the Sultan have agreed that the cases are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council who then advise the Sultan, directly.
The committee hears Appeals to His Majesty in Council:
Very rarely the Committee hears:
The committee must also report to the King about anything he ask. For example, investigating which members of the House of Lords supported the enemy in World War I.[2]
Orders and Honours of the United Kingdom | |
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Current orders | Garter • Thistle • Bath • Merit • St. Michael and St. George • Royal Victorian • British Empire • Companions of Honour • Distinguished Service • Imperial Service |
Dormant orders | St. Patrick • Royal Guelphic • Star of India • Indian Empire • Crown of India • Indian Merit • British India • Victoria and Albert • Burma |
Other honours | Royal Family Orders • Hereditary peerage • Life peerage • Privy Councillor • Baronet • Knight Bachelor • Hereditary knighthood • St. John • ADC • more |
See also : Order of Wear, Revocations, UK orders, decorations and medals and UK campaign medals |
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