Privy Council
in English law, the principal council of the sovereign, consisting of members chosen at his or her pleasure. Its dissolution depends on the royal pleasure; by common law it was dissolved ipso facto by the demise of the sovereign, but to prevent the inconvenience of having no council in being at the accession of a new prince, the privy council is enabled by statute to continue for six months after the demise of the crown, unless sooner dissolved by the successor. It is presided over by the Lord President of the Council, who has precedence next after the Lord Chancellor. Members of the privy council are addressed as Right Honorable. The office of a privy councilor is now confined to advising the sovereign in the discharge of executive, legislative, and judicial duties.