History of absolutism: apparently the Queen rules as well as reigns

Small, but she has powers as well as guns

Remarkable story in The Guardian online reports that when the British government routinely informs the Queen and the Prince of Wales about forthcoming legislation, the Queen and Prince routinely ... veto anything they dislike.

The new laws that were required to receive the seal of approval from the Queen or Prince Charles cover issues from higher education and paternity pay to identity cards and child maintenance.In one instance the Queen completely vetoed the Military Actions Against Iraq Bill in 1999, a private member's bill that sought to transfer the power to authorise military strikes against Iraq from the monarch to parliament.

Prerogative powers, getting murkier and murkier.....

Does David Johnston know about these privileges? Or is it an English-y thing?

[H/T Fruits and Votes, which is also a little dumbfounded.  Photo: From The Guardian]