<P> In a hung parliament where no party or coalition holds a majority, the monarch has an increased degree of latitude in choosing the individual likely to command the most support, though it would usually be the leader of the largest party . Since 1945, there have only been three hung parliaments . The first followed the February 1974 general election when Harold Wilson was appointed Prime Minister after Edward Heath resigned following his failure to form a coalition . Although Wilson's Labour Party did not have a majority, they were the largest party . The second followed the May 2010 general election, in which the Conservatives (the largest party) and Liberal Democrats (the third largest party) agreed to form the first coalition government since World War II . The third occurred shortly thereafter, in June 2017, when the Conservative Party lost its majority in a snap election, though the party remained in power as a minority government . </P> <P> In 1950 the King's Private Secretary Sir Alan "Tommy" Lascelles, writing pseudonymously to The Times newspaper asserted a constitutional convention: according to the Lascelles Principles, if a minority government asked to dissolve Parliament to call an early election to strengthen its position, the monarch could refuse, and would do so under three conditions . When Harold Wilson requested a dissolution late in 1974, the Queen granted his request as Heath had already failed to form a coalition . The resulting general election gave Wilson a small majority . The monarch could in theory unilaterally dismiss a Prime Minister, but a Prime Minister's term now comes to an end only by electoral defeat, death, or resignation . The last monarch to remove a Prime Minister was William IV, who dismissed Lord Melbourne in 1834 . The Fixed - term Parliaments Act 2011 removed the monarch's authority to dissolve Parliament; the Act specifically retained the monarch's power of prorogation however, which is a regular feature of the parliamentary calendar . </P> <P> Some of the government's executive authority is theoretically and nominally vested in the Sovereign and is known as the royal prerogative . The monarch acts within the constraints of convention and precedent, exercising prerogative only on the advice of ministers responsible to Parliament, often through the Prime Minister or Privy Council . In practice, prerogative powers are exercised only on the Prime Minister's advice--the Prime Minister, and not the Sovereign, has control . The monarch holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister . No records of these audiences are taken and the proceedings remain fully confidential . The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the decisions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (providing they command the support of the House). In Bagehot's words: "the Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy...three rights--the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn ." </P> <P> Although the Royal Prerogative is extensive and parliamentary approval is not formally required for its exercise, it is limited . Many Crown prerogatives have fallen out of use or have been permanently transferred to Parliament . For example, the monarch cannot impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorisation of an Act of Parliament . According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers", and Parliament can override any prerogative power by passing legislation . </P>

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