zlacker

>>xd+(OP)
I've never really understood how we can still have monarchies but I do believe Elizabeth was probably one the better ones that have sat on those thrones.

A few years ago I looked into how much power she had and I was shocked. I was also shocked by how much that monarchy owns.

>>oblib+Zl
It depends on what you mean by "owns" too. My understanding is that legally the monarch (or is it the Crown, I know there is some kind of distinction) is the landlord of last resort for all of his or her holdings. In the case of the British monarch, that includes not just the isles, but the Commonwealth realms as well. Any property taxes in those realms are technically feudal rents.

And yeah the British monarch's theoretical legal power is immense. For one thing the UK armed forces swear loyalty personally to the monarch, not to the government! The monarch could go to war with Parliament again and the military would be upholding their oath!

The late Queen was a woman of impeccable public ethics though. In some sense it's more admirable for a person who is not bound by the law to choose to follow it scrupulously, which she did.