Monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda

King of Antigua and Barbuda
Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda
Incumbent
Charles III since 8 September 2022
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir apparent	William, Prince of Wales
First monarch	Elizabeth II
Formation	1 November 1981

Politics of Antigua and Barbuda
Executive Monarch Charles III Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams Prime Minister Gaston Browne Cabinet
Legislative Parliament Senate President House of Representatives Speaker Leader of the Opposition
Judicial Magistrates' Courts Supreme Court High Court Court of Appeal Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Elections Recent elections General: 2014 2018 2023 Political parties
Administrative divisions Parishes and dependencies
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs Minister: E.P. Chet Greene Diplomatic missions of / in Antigua and Barbuda Passports Visa requirements Visa policy
Barbuda Barbuda Council Chairperson Vice Chairperson Secretary
Other countries
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The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda.^[1] The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.

All executive authority is vested in the monarch, and royal assent is required for the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda to enact laws and for letters patent and Orders in Council to have legal effect. Most of the powers are exercised by the elected members of parliament, the ministers of the Crown generally drawn from amongst them, and the judges and justices of the peace. Other powers vested in the monarch, such as dismissal of a prime minister, are significant but are treated only as reserve powers and as an important security part of the role of the monarchy.

The Crown today primarily functions as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against the abuse of power. While some powers are exercisable only by the sovereign, most of the monarch's operational and ceremonial duties are exercised by his representative, the governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda.