British constitution

Hi all
As an addendum to the NAC debate:
The British state is full of peculiarities. I got the following from 
the ancmed mailing list:

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...remember also there were counties Palatinate as well. Lancashire 
being one example. They tended to be border counties were the monarchs 
writ did not run, it had to be agreed by the Count/duke etc.
In current times, acts of Parliament would not effect Lancashire 
except that the Queen is Duke of Lancaster and signs in that capacity. 
Hence the loyal toast in Lancashire is not, "Gentlemen, the Queen" 
but, "Gentlemen, the Duke of Lancaster".

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Greetings
Karl Heinz