Kiss Hands
Encyclopedia
To kiss hands is a constitution
al term used in the United Kingdom
to refer to the formal installation of Crown
-appointed British government ministers to their office.
In the past, it referred to the requirement that the office-holder actually kiss
the hands of the Sovereign
as a symbol of personal fealty
and loyalty
to the Sovereign, that fealty and loyalty being a requirement to serve in the King's or Queen's government.
In modern times, office holders are not expected physically to kiss the hands of the Sovereign (although some have quite unexpectedly done so). Simply being received by the Queen is taken to validate the appointment, with this meeting being described as "kissing hands".
The invitation issued to a party leader to form a government is sometimes still described as "an invitation to kiss hands".
When appointing a Secretary of State
(top rank in the UK Government), the protocol also involves the delivery by the Sovereign of the seals of office into the hands of the appointee. This is also valid for other officers who are keepers of seals, such as the Lord Privy Seal
or the Lord Chancellor
, who is also keeper of the Great Seal
of the United Kingdom.
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
al term used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to refer to the formal installation of Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
-appointed British government ministers to their office.
In the past, it referred to the requirement that the office-holder actually kiss
Kiss
A kiss is the act of pressing one's lips against the lips or other body parts of another person or of an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, and good...
the hands of the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
as a symbol of personal fealty
Fealty
An oath of fealty, from the Latin fidelitas , is a pledge of allegiance of one person to another. Typically the oath is made upon a religious object such as a Bible or saint's relic, often contained within an altar, thus binding the oath-taker before God.In medieval Europe, fealty was sworn between...
and loyalty
Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause There are many aspects to...
to the Sovereign, that fealty and loyalty being a requirement to serve in the King's or Queen's government.
In modern times, office holders are not expected physically to kiss the hands of the Sovereign (although some have quite unexpectedly done so). Simply being received by the Queen is taken to validate the appointment, with this meeting being described as "kissing hands".
The invitation issued to a party leader to form a government is sometimes still described as "an invitation to kiss hands".
When appointing a Secretary of State
Secretary of State (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department ....
(top rank in the UK Government), the protocol also involves the delivery by the Sovereign of the seals of office into the hands of the appointee. This is also valid for other officers who are keepers of seals, such as the Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
or the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, who is also keeper of the Great Seal
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
of the United Kingdom.