As the head of the state, can Queen Elizabeth II claim immunity from the law?

Answer 1

In a nutshell, yes she can claim immunity.

The Queen can, on ministerial advice, pardon or show mercy to those convicted of crimes. In law the Queen as a private person can do no wrong: she is immune from civil or criminal proceedings and cannot be sued in courts of law. This immunity is not shared by other members of the royal family.

In the earliest times the Sovereign was a key figure in the enforcement of law and the establishment of legal systems in different areas of the UK. As such the Sovereign became known as the 'Fount of Justice'.

While no longer administering justice in a practical way, the Sovereign today still retains an important symbolic role as the figure in whose name justice is carried out, and law and order is maintained.

Although civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under UK law, The Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law.



Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. She is most strongly associated with the United Kingdom, the British Royal Family's country of residence and the birthplace of the British monarchy.

Apart from the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II is also Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, where she is represented by Governors-General. The sixteen countries of which she is Queen are known as Commonwealth Realms, and their combined population is 128 million.

Elizabeth became Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952. As other colonies of the British Empire (now the Commonwealth of Nations) attained independence from the UK during her reign, she acceded to the newly created thrones as Queen of each respective realm so that throughout her 54 years on the throne she has been Monarch of 32 nations, half of which either moved to different royal houses, or became republics.

Elizabeth is the second-longest-reigning current recognised head of state in the world and the fifth-longest serving British monarch. Her reign of over half a century has seen ten different Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and numerous Prime Ministers in the Commonwealth Realms of which she is (or was) also Head of State; between them she has had a total of 138 Prime Ministers during her reign.

Answer 2

Simple answer yes she can. Queen Elizabeth II is the Patron Head of the UK Secret Society of Freemasonry.Crown immunity from crime is a violation of international law.

Answer 3

Yes she is. If she wasn't, then a judge and jury (her subjects) would have more authority than her. This clearly doesn't work, and so the head of state must be immune from prosecution (I'm not saying this is right, shoot the German dog).

Answer 4

In a way you could say "yes" and "no".

And, mostly, she does not have to "claim" immunity since she could be said to be "immune".

Of course, remember King Charles I and what Parliament did to him.

And, of course, Britain is a Constitutional Monarchy so Her Majesty Reigns and Rules in accord with the Constitution.

However, she does not require a Passport, since passports are issued in her name. My understanding is that her automobile does not require licence markers (plates), since they are issued in her name. In many such ways she is exempt from the laws.

Answer 5

Probably, but I am not sure that the British people would let her get away with it. That said, she is so stuffy that I do not believe she will ever need immunity from the law.

Answer 6

Prince Charles already has decades of experience talking to heads of state! As Prince of Wales he has met with MANY. Charles and Camilla will both serve as ambassadors for the UK.

Answer 7

She doesn't need to claim it. It is technically simply impossible for any part of the British legal system to prosecute her, because they already bring all their prosecutions in her name. Court cases are designated "Regina v. Smith", "Regina v. Brown" etcetera, and you cannot have "Regina v. Regina".

Answer 8

she is the law! though i don't see her getting into any trouble! God Save the Queen!

Answer 9

Absolutely not, and HRH would be appalled at any suggestion that she would behave in such a manner.

Answer 10

No. She can't go on a serial killing rampage.