Orders in Council
Selected letter
O
Orders in Council are made by the King acting on the advice of the Privy Council and are approved in person by the monarch.
Some, like those that transfer functions between Ministers of the Crown, are made using powers conferred by an Act of Parliament. Others, like those which make appointments to the civil service, are made by virtue of the royal prerogative. Although Orders in Council must be formally approved in person by the monarch, they are drafted and their substance is controlled by the government.