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The word "privy" means "private" or "secret" thus a privy council was originally a Committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give Confidential advice on affairs of state.

In non-monarchial nations (e.g. the United States ) the equivalent body is the " Cabinet " although some nations have both a privy council organized around the monarch and a cabinet organized around the prime minister (e.g. the United Kingdom ).


UNITED KINGDOM AND COMMONWEALTH

See Also: Privy Council of the United Kingdom



In the United Kingdom , the Privy Council, formally Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council , consists of all the members of the Cabinet , former Cabinet ministers, and other distinguished persons appointed by the Sovereign. Its functions include issuing orders in Council, granting Royal Charter s, and acting as a court of appeal from British Courts in overseas territories.