THE BRITISH MONARCHY AND US REPUBLIC TODAY•

I. UK parliamentary monarchy today (docs 1, 2 & 3)

• Government buildings
Buckingham Palace : represents the executive power held by King Charles III ;
Number 10 Downing St : represents the executive power held by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ;
Westminster Palace : represents the legislative power held by Parliament

• A democracy
In 1689, the UK wasn’t a democracy because the House of Commons was elected by less than 5% of the population : it was a restricted franchise.
In 1928, the UK became a democracy as women got the vote ; today everyone votes : it’s a universal franchise.

• The role of the monarch
In the UK, King Charles III is the head of state. The prime minister (PM) is the head of government and holds power, he/she governs/rules. The monarch reigns but doesn’t rule, the king has no real/actual power but he is a symbol of stability for the British people.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand are former British colonies which belong to the Commonwealth headed by the monarch. They are parliamentary monarchies with King Charles III as head of state (he reigns) and their PMs as head of government (they rule/govern). So even if Canada, Australia and New Zealand are now independent states, they still have an English monarch.