From Yahoo! Answers UK and Ireland:
Technically in the UK the Queen has all the following powers:
In domestic matters, the Royal Prerogative covers
* the issuing and withdrawal of passports
* the appointment and dismissal of ministers
* the appointment of Queen’s Counsel
* the granting of honours
* the appointment and regulation of the civil service
* the commissioning of officers in the armed forces
* the dissolution of Parliament
* the calling of elections
In foreign affairs, it covers
* the declaration of war
* the making of treaties
* the recognition of foreign states
* the accreditation of diplomats
However in reality the Queen wields these powers on behalf of the government of the day and if she tried to use them by herself under normal circumstances then it would cause a constitutional crisis. However under the right conditions. Say the current coalition refused to step down at the end of their term and seized parliament. Then the Queen could officially sack the government and command the army to overthrown the coalition and then restoring democracy dissolve parliament and call a general election.
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The “Crown” still holds the seeds of power in British Government. The armed forces swear an oath to the Queen.
” (your name), swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, her heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.”
Wanna go another round?
All of which MUST be done on the advice of her Minsters. Who MUST command the support of a majority of the House of Commons.
As I stated in my previous post, the reserve powers exist, but would only be used in a Constitutional Crisis in which the existance of Britsh democracy and constitutional government was at stake.
Also, remember Parliament determines the Crown, it has deposed one King (James II & VII), and a Government forced a second to abdicate (Edward VIII). It goes both ways.
Hence the concept of Crown-in-Parliament. Soveregnty is vested in the Parliament, consiting of the Crown, Commons, and Lords, all of whom are directly or indirectly answerable to the people.