Mr Gladstone not only appeared, but rushed into the debate. The House, very full, was breathless. The new members trembled & fluttered like small birds when a hawk is in the air.

Letter from Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria, 17 March 1875

Britain has had a constitutional monarchy since the changes in the late seventeenth century, notably the Bill of Rights of 1689.

The Sovereign’s relationship with Parliament, the prime minister and the Cabinet plays an important part in the governance of the country.

Although no longer directly involved in the day-to-day business of government, it is vital for the Head of State to be kept informed, and so a system emerged for regular reports of Cabinet meetings and sittings of Parliament to be sent to the Sovereign.

Click on the thumbnails to see the full transcript and image for each item; page numbers relate to their location in the book: