The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy: European Monarchies Compared

How much power does a monarch really have? How much autonomy do they enjoy? Who regulates the size of the royal family, their finances, the rules of succession? These are some of the questions considered in this edited collection on the monarchies of Europe. The book is written by experts from Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It considers the constitutional and political role of monarchy, its powers and functions, how it is defined and regulated, the laws of succession and royal finances, relations with the media, the popularity of the monarchy and why it endures. No new political theory on this topic has been developed since Bagehot wrote about the monarchy in The English Constitution (1867). The same is true of the other European monarchies. 150 years on, with their formal powers greatly reduced, how has this ancient, hereditary institution managed to survive and what is a modern monarch’s role? What theory can be derived about the role of monarchy in advanced democracies, and what lessons can the different European monarchies learn from each other? The public look to the monarchy to represent continuity, stability and tradition, but also want it to be modern, to reflect modern values and be a focus for national identity. The whole institution is shot through with contradictions, myths and misunderstandings. This book should lead to a more realistic debate about our expectations of the monarchy, its role and its future. The contributors are leading experts from all over Europe: Rudy Andeweg, Ian Bradley, Paul Bovend’Eert, Axel Calissendorff, Frank Cranmer, Robert Hazell, Olivia Hepsworth, Luc Heuschling, Helle Krunke, Bob Morris, Roger Mortimore, Lennart Nilsson, Philip Murphy, Quentin Pironnet, Bart van Poelgeest, Frank Prochaska, Charles Powell, Jean Seaton, Eivind Smith.

Table of Contents:
PART I DEFINING THE PROJECT 1. Genesis of the Book Robert Hazell and Bob Morris 2. Monarchy in the Constitutional Texts Robert Hazell PART II MONARCHICAL FUNCTIONS 3. Constitutional Functions of the Monarchy 3.1. Introduction Robert Hazell 3.2. Constitutional Functions of the Monarchy in the UK Robert Hazell 3.3. The Monarch’s Constitutional Functions in Denmark Helle Krunke 3.4. The King and Public Power in the Minimalist Monarchy of Sweden Henrik Wenander 3.5a. Constitutional Functions in the Netherlands Rudy Andeweg 3.5b. The Netherlands: From Personal Regime to Limited Role Paul Bovend’Eert 3.6. Constitutional Functions in Belgium Quentin Pironnet 3.7. Constitutional Functions in Norway Eivind Smith 3.8. Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri’s Refusal, in 2008, to Sign the Bill Legalising Euthanasia Luc Heuschling 3.9. Spain: The Coup of February 1981 Charles Powell 3.10. Conclusions Robert Hazell 4. Day-to-Day Political Functions of the Monarchy 4.1. Introduction Robert Hazell 4.2a. The King and the Government in the Netherlands Paul Bovend’Eert 4.2b. Political Functions of the Dutch Monarchy Rudy Andeweg 4.3. Day-to-Day Political Functions of the Monarch in Denmark Helle Krunke 4.4. Day-to-Day Political Functions of the Monarchy in the UK Robert Hazell 4.5. Political Functions of the Monarchy in Norway Eivind Smith 4.6. Political Functions of the Monarchy in Sweden Henrik Wenander 4.7. Political Functions of the Monarchy in Belgium Quentin Pironnet 4.8. Conclusions Robert Hazell 5. Ceremonial Functions of Monarchy 5.1. Introduction Bob Morris 5.2. Monarchies and Religion in Europe Frank Cranmer 5.3. The Religious Dimension of Monarchy Ian Bradley 5.4. Norway: Ceremonial Functions Eivind Smith 5.5. European Royal Ceremonial Functions: Summary Bob Morris 5.6. Conclusions Bob Morris 6. Service and Welfare; and International Functions 6.1. Introduction Bob Morris 6.2. Welfare: The Feminisation of the British Monarchy Frank Prochaska 6.3. Service: How Monarchies have to be seen to be Believed Bob Morris 6.4. State Visits Made and Received by the British and other European Monarchical Heads of State Philip Murphy 6.5. State Visits Made and Received by King Juan Carlos I and King Felipe VI of Spain Charles Powell 6.6. Conclusions Bob Morris PART III REGULATING MONARCHY 7. Regulation of the Monarchy: Regulating the Size of the Royal Family, the Line of Succession, and Royal Finances 7.1. Introduction Bob Morris 7.2. Defining a Royal House: Continental Monarchy and the Netherlands Bart van Poelgeest 7.3. Norway Eivind Smith 7.4. Sweden Axel Calissendorff 7.5. The UK Bob Morris 7.6. Gender Equality and the Line of Succession Olivia Hepsworth 7.7. Comparative Summary and Conclusions Bob Morris 8. Constraints on the Monarchy 8.1. Introduction Robert Hazell 8.2. The Royal Family’s Lack of Human Rights Robert Hazell 8.3. Constraints on the Monarchy and Royal Family in Sweden Axel Calissendorff 8.4. Constraints on the Monarchy and Royal Family in Norway Eivind Smith 8.5. Education, Training and Career Choices of Heirs Apparent Olivia Hepsworth 8.6. Conclusions Robert Hazell 9. The Monarchy, Public Opinion and the Media 9.1. Introduction Robert Hazell 9.2. Modern Forms of Legitimisation of the Monarchy Helle Krunke 9.3. Polls and Public Opinion Roger Mortimore 9.4. The Legitimacy of the Swedish Monarchy: The Different Perceptions of Parliamentarians, Journalists and the People Lennart Nilsson 9.5. The Monarchy, ‘Popularity’, Legitimacy and the Media Jean Seaton 9.6. Conclusions Robert Hazell PART IV CONCLUSIONS 10. Towards a New Theory of European Monarchy Robert Hazell and Bob Morris