Monarchy of Puerto Rico
Queen of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico | |
---|---|
Reina del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Spanish) | |
Incumbent | |
Alexandra since 13 October 2017 | |
Details | |
Style | Her Majesty |
Heir presumptive | Prince Richard of Hanover |
First monarch | Charles III |
Formation | 22 March 1977 |
Residence | Royal Estate, San Juan |
The monarchy of Puerto Rico is a constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Puerto Rico. Generally, a number of terms have been used to refer to the government of Puerto Rico, namely Crown in Right of Puerto Rico, Her Majesty in Right of Puerto Rico, or The Queen in Right of Puerto Rico. While originally rooted in British culture, the institution has since come to adopt a more Puerto Rican or Spanish identity, given the country's predominantly Hispanic culture and history.
At present, the current monarch is Queen Alexandra who, given her constitutional role, exercises her powers through a cabinet of ministers led by the Prime Minister of Puerto Rico who is popularly elected every four years. In practice, the Queen has been represented in the country by a governor-general, who usually exercises the role of head of state in the monarch's name.