Page "Head of state" Paragraph 184

In a monarchy, the Monarch is the Head of State.

This is a relatively recent phenomenon ; until the last few decades a sovereign was seen as the personal embodiment of the state (" L ' etat c ' est moi ", so to speak ), and therefore could not be head of himself or herself ( hence many constitutions from the 19th century and earlier make no mention of a " head of state ").

Though some still maintain that calling a Monarch Head of State is incorrect, it has now become a widespread political convention to attach the label to Monarchs, regardless of their political position.