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Go without a last name -

The British royal family's official last name is Windsor. But when the monarch inherited the throne, she left it behind and took on the name Elizabeth Regina. Regina is the Latin word for "queen," and it's used in official documents.

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Drive a car without a license -

Usually, the Queen is chauffeured to engagements, but occasionally she likes to get behind the wheel. And she can do so without a driver's license.

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Decide the royal dress code -

There are a lot of fashion rules for the royal family to follow, and the Queen herself has the final say. Some guidelines are even based on her personal preferences.

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Avoid getting arrested -

The Queen doesn't ever have to worry about getting locked up. She has sovereign immunity, and therefore can never be prosecuted.

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Access to all the royal residences -

While her official residence is Buckingham Palace, where she moved in after ascending the throne in 1952, the Queen splits her time between several royal residences.

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Travel internationally without a passport -

Since all British passports are issued by the Queen herself, she isn't required to have one. However, other members of the royal family aren't granted this right.

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Drive without a license plate -

You can easily spot a vehicle belonging to the Queen. It will be the only car on the road without a license plate, and probably there will also be police escorts nearby.

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Approve of royal marriage proposals -

According to the Succession to the Crown Act, the first six members of the royal family in line to the crown must have consent from the Queen to marry.

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Own unclaimed swans in the UK -

Dating back to the 12th century, the monarch is technically the owner of any and all unclaimed swans swimming in open waters in the UK.

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Own the Bentley State Limousine -

Queen Elizabeth II has her own private Bentley to ride around in. The elegant vehicle is known as the Bentley State Limousine.

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Have her face on the currency in multiple countries -

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured on the currency of 33 countries around the world. She's the only living monarch to have her face on the currency of so many countries' coins and bills.

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Skip paying taxes -

As a sovereign, the Queen is exempt from paying taxes. However, she voluntarily pays taxes on income, assets, and gains that aren't used for official royal purposes.

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Declare war -

Another special power granted to the Queen is that she can declare war and peace. She can also send troops to an area of armed conflict.

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Avoid jury duty -

It used to be that the entire royal family was exempt from being called to jury duty, as it was believed it would cause disruption for the Queen. But since 2003, the law was amended and only the Queen is now exempt.

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Choose the royal menu -

With her own cooking staff, anything the Queen wants to eat is available to her. She's presented with a menu twice a week to decide on.

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Celebrate two birthdays -

As the sovereign, the Queen gets to celebrate two birthdays. Her real birthday is privately celebrated on April 21, and her royal birthday is marked on the second Saturday in June.

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Decide what jewelry is loaned out -

For formal occasions, such as state dinners and royal weddings, the Queen decides which jewels and tiaras she loans to family members.

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Decide when dinner ends -

According to royal etiquette, when the Queen is done with her dinner, the meal is officially over. So you better eat quickly at Buckingham Palace!

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Give out knighthoods -

The Queen can grant a knighthood to any citizen for their achievements or service to their country. The ceremony, known as an investiture, takes place at Buckingham Palace.

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Grant a criminal pardon -

Queen Elizabeth II has the power to grant the royal prerogative mercy, which pardons an individual of any criminal punishment. The Queen issued the special order in 2020 to pardon a convicted felon who saved the lives of British citizens in a London terror attack.

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Have a private ATM -

Imagine never having to rush to an ATM before closing time... That's the case for the Queen, as she has a private ATM in the basement of Buckingham Palace. Provided by the British bank, Coutts, it's only available to the royal family.

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Ignore speed limits -

The Road Traffic Regulation Act allows emergency service vehicles to break speed limits, so when the Queen is escorted by police officers, she's granted the same right.

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Have access to special jewelry -

Some pieces are personally owned by the Queen, while those used for important ceremonies are crown jewels that are part of the royal collection. As the monarch, she has direct access to any of them.

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Keep her finances private -

The Queen and the royal family are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, which grants the British public the ability to access any information held by the government. However, the royals do disclose their use of public money each year.

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Go cashless -

Even with her own ATM, the Queen rarely has to bring cash with her. The only time she actually does leave the palace with some notes are on Sundays, so she can donate to the church.

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Not curtsy -

Curtsying is a huge part of royal etiquette, but according to protocol the Queen doesn't need to return the gesture. However, all female members of the royal family are expected to greet the Queen with a formal curtsy, while male members are required to bow their heads.

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Open Parliament -

The monarch is more than just a symbolic figurehead in government. One of her many duties as the head of stead is to lead the State Opening of Parliament each year.

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Own all the dolphins in the UK -

Due to a rule that goes back to the 14th century, the Queen technically owns all the dolphins, whales, sturgeons, and porpoises in the waters around the UK.

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Take legal custody of her grandchildren -

This law goes back to King George I, who ruled in the early 1700s. He passed the law because he had a bad relationship with his son, the future King George II. This way he became the guardian of his grandchildren.

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Dismiss a prime minister -

Even if she can't vote or state her political opinions publicly, the Queen has the power to dismiss a prime minister. However, it must be an extreme case for her to act. 

Sources: (Good Housekeeping) (Cosmopolitan)

See also: Modern royals with a separate career 

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