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The Sovereign would never risk a showdown with the House of Commons because the latter would win. As such, the Sovereign’s role is largely ceremonial.


This is pretty much the case for any monarchy in europe these days.

In Belgium for instance, the monarch has to sign all legislation into law. For personal reasons, could not sign a abortion bill drafted by the belgium parlement.

Because denying to sign the bill directly would results in basically the end of the monarchy, he decided to "resign" for a day, the cabinet assumed his powers, the bill got signed, and he was reinstated again.[0]

[0] https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/05/world/belgian-king-unable...




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