Royal Duties and Royal Assent

The monarch has important ceremonial duties: opening new parliamentary sessions each year with a speech summarising government policies, giving royal assent to Acts of Parliament (all Acts are made in the monarch's name), receiving foreign ambassadors, and making state visits. The monarch has regular meetings with the Prime Minister and can advise, warn and encourage. The monarch provides continuity and a focus for national identity. The monarch invites the leader of the majority party to become Prime Minister.