A royal commission is a major ad-hoc formal

public inquiry A tribunal of inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body. In many common law countries, such as the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, Australia and Canada, such a public inquiry differs from a royal ...

into a defined issue in some monarchies. They have been held in the United Kingdom,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Malaysia, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia. A royal commission is similar in function to a commission of inquiry (or, less commonly, enquiry) found in other countries such as Ireland, South Africa, and Hong Kong. It has considerable powers, generally greater even than those of a

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

but restricted to the terms of reference of the commission. These powers include subpoenaing witnesses, taking evidence under oath and requesting documents. The commission is created by the head of state (the sovereign, or their representative in the form of a governor-general or governor) on the advice of the government and formally appointed by

letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...

. In practice—unlike lesser forms of inquiry—once a commission has started the government cannot stop it. Consequently, governments are usually very careful about framing the terms of reference and generally include in them a date by which the commission must finish. Royal commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions. Many royal commissions last many years and, often, a different government is left to respond to the findings.

Notable royal commissions

Australia

Royal commissions (sometimes called commissions of inquiry) have been held in Australia at a federal level since 1902. Royal commissions appointed by the

governor-general Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

operate under the Royal Commissions Act 1902 passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1902. Royal commissions are the highest form of inquiry on matters of public importance. A royal commission is formally established by the governor-general on behalf of the Crown and on the advice of government ministers. The government decides the terms of reference, provides the funding and appoints the commissioners, who are selected on the basis of their independence and qualifications. They are never serving politicians. Royal commissions are usually chaired by one or more notable figures. Because of their quasi-judicial powers the commissioners are often retired or serving judges. They usually involve research into an issue, consultations with experts both within and outside government and public consultations as well. The warrant may grant immense investigatory powers, including summoning witnesses under oath, offering of indemnities, seizing of documents and other evidence (sometimes including those normally protected, such as classified information), holding hearings '' in camera'' if necessary and—in a few cases—compelling all government officials to aid in the execution of the commission. The results of royal commissions are published in reports, often massive, of findings containing policy recommendations. Due to the verbose nature of the titles of these formal documents they are commonly known by the name of the commission's chair. For example, the “Royal Commission into whether there has been corrupt or criminal conduct by any Western Australian Police Officer” is known as the Kennedy Royal Commission. While these reports are often quite influential, with the government enacting some or all recommendations into law, the work of some commissions have been almost completely ignored by the government. In other cases, where the commissioner has departed from the Warranted terms, the commission has been dissolved by a superior court.

Federal

* Royal Commission in the matter of an inquiry into a statement that there was a document missing from the official files in relation to " The Brisbane Line" (1943) * Royal Commission on loss of HMAS Voyager (1964), investigated the collision between HMAS ''Melbourne'' and HMAS ''Voyager'' * Royal Commission on the statement of Lieutenant Commander Cabban and matters incidental thereto (1967–1968), investigated claims that the captain of HMAS ''Voyager'' frequently drank to excess and was unfit for command * Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security ("Hope Commission") investigated the country's intelligence agencies (1974–1977) *Royal Commission On Human Relationships (1974–1977), inquired into and reported on the family, social, educational and sexual aspects of male and female relationships. * Royal Commission on the activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union ("Costigan Royal Commission") (1980–1984), investigated organised crime influences and drug trafficking in a large trade union * Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking ("Stewart Royal Commission") (1981–1983) * Royal Commission into British nuclear tests in Australia (1984–1985) * Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1987–1991), investigated the allegedly disproportionate number of deaths of Australian Aboriginals while in custody *

Royal Commission into HIH Insurance HIH Insurance was Australia's second-largest insurance company before it was placed into provisional liquidation on 15 March 2001. The demise of HIH is considered to be the largest corporate collapse in Australia's history, with liquidators est ...

(2001–2003), investigated the collapse of HIH Insurance, then Australia's second largest insurance company *

Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry The Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry, or informally the Cole Royal Commission, was a Royal Commission established by the Australian government to inquire into and report upon alleged misconduct in the building and co ...

("Cole Royal Commission"), (2001–2003), investigated the conduct of industrial relations within the building industry * Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme ("Cole Inquiry"), (2005–2006), investigation into the alleged participation of the AWB into the

Oil for Food The Oil-for-Food Programme (OIP), established by the United Nations in 1995 (under UN Security Council Resolution 986) was established to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs fo ...

program * Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013–2017) * Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program (2013–2014), investigated the death of four male workers, ninety-four house fires related to insulation, and allegations of fraud as a result of the implementation of the Home Insulation Program *

Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was a Royal Commission established by the Government of Australia to inquire into alleged financial irregularities associated with the affairs of trade unions. The Australian Worke ...

(2014–2015) * Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (2016–2017) * Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (2017–2019) * Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2018–2021) *

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is a royal commission established on 4 April 2019 by the Australian government pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902. The Honourable Ronald Sackv ...

(2019–present) * Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (2020) * Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme (2022–2023)

New South Wales

Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service The Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service, also known as the Wood Royal Commission, was a royal commission held in the State of New South Wales, Australia between 1995 and 1997. The Royal Commissioner was Justice James Ro ...

("Wood Royal Commission") (1994–1997) investigated Police corruption in New South Wales. * Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking ("Woodward Royal Commission"), (1977–1980) investigated drug trafficking in New South Wales, especially links between the Mafia and New South Wales Police and the disappearance of Donald Mackay * Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons ("Nagle Royal Commission"), (1976–1978) * Royal Commission of Inquiry in respect of certain matters relating to allegations of organised crime in clubs ("Moffitt Royal Commission") (1973–1974) investigated organised crime in New South Wales. * Chelmsford Royal Commission (1989–1990) investigated patient deaths due to induced comas at the Chelmsford psychiatric hospital in Sydney during the 1960s and 1970s

Queensland

* Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct ("Fitzgerald Inquiry"), (1987–1989) into Queensland Police corruption *Grantham Flood Commission of Inquiry *Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry

South Australia

*Commission appointed by the Governor-in-Chief to inquire into the loss of the " Admella" (1859) *Royal Commission in regard to Rupert Max Stuart (1959) * Splatt Royal Commission (1983–1984) *

Hindmarsh Island Royal Commission The Hindmarsh Island Royal Commission was a Royal Commission into the nature of female Aboriginal religious beliefs relating to Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island in South Australia that was triggered by the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy. Ba ...

(1995) investigating the legal and political controversy that involved the clash of Indigenous Australian religious beliefs and property rights regarding the construction of a bridge to Hindmarsh Island * Kapunda Road Royal Commission (2005) investigating the circumstances of the hit and run death of Ian Humphrey and those of the trial and conviction of Eugene McGee * Child Protection Systems Royal Commission (2014–2016) investigating the effectiveness of the child protection systems that are currently in place * Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (2015) investigating opportunities and risks for South Australia * Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission (2018–2019) investigating the operations and effectiveness of the Murray-Darling Basin system

Victoria

*Royal Commission into the

King Street Bridge King Street Bridge may refer to: * King Street Bridge (Melbourne), Australia * King Street Bridge (Toronto), Canada * King Street Overhead Bridge King Street Overhead Bridge is a historic overhead bridge located at Kings Mountain, Cleveland Cou ...

failure, (1962–1963) *Royal Commission into the West Gate Bridge collapse, (1970–1971) *Royal Commission into the Longford gas plant accident, (1998–1999) *

2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission is a Victorian Royal Commission that concluded on 31 July 2010 that investigated the circumstances surrounding the Black Saturday bushfires on Saturday 7February 2009 which caused 173 fatalities. ...

("Black Saturday Royal Commission"), (2009–2010) investigating the events and conditions surrounding the

2009 Victorian bushfires The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that either ignited or were already burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009, and were among Australia's all-time worst bushfire disasters. T ...

Royal Commission into Family Violence (2015–2016)
* Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (22 February 2019 – 2 March 2021) * Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (2018–present)

Western Australia

* Royal Commission into alleged killing and burning of bodies of Aborigines in East Kimberley and into police methods when effecting arrests ("1927 Wood Royal Commission"), (1927) investigating the Forrest River massacre of Indigenous Australians * Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters ("WA Inc Royal Commission") (1990–1992) investigated the collapse of Bond Corporation, Rothwells, Bell Group, and other large businesses in Western Australia as well as government commercial enterprises * Royal Commission into the use of Executive Power ("Marks Royal Commission") (1995) to determine the circumstances of the tabling of a petition in a family law case and the alleged misleading of WA Parliament by Carmen Lawrence * Royal commission into whether there has been corrupt or criminal conduct by any Western Australian Police Officer ("WA Police Royal Commission"), (2002–2004) investigated high-level corruption in the Western Australian police force

Northern Territory

*Royal Commission into Juvenile Correction Facilities in the Northern Territory (2016). On 25 July 201
Prime Minister Turnbull announced a Royal Commission will be established
after an investigation by Four Corners uncovered serious mistreatment of inmates within the Northern Territory's juvenile detention system.

Bahamas

* Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking and Government Corruption (November 1983 – December 1984) (formerly ''The Commission of Inquiry Appointed to Inquire Into the Illegal Use of the Bahamas for the Transshipment of Dangerous Drugs Destined for the United States of America'') A three-person Commission of Inquiry was appointed after US-television reports alleged the government was taking bribes from drug traffickers to look the other way as drugs flowed through the Bahamas bound for the United States.

Bahrain

* Royal Independent Investigation Commission (June 2011), to examine the episodes of civil disobedience and alleged human rights offences committed in the aftermath of the February 2011 protests.

Canada

Ceylon

* Colebrooke–Cameron Commission

Hong Kong

* Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project (2019–2020) * Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water (2015–2016) * Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island (2012) * Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to the Hong Kong Institute of Education (2007) * Commission of Inquiry on the New Airport (1998–1999) * Commission of Inquiry into the Garley Building Fire (1996–1997)

India

* Royal Commission on Opium (1895) *

Royal Commission on Labour The Royal Commission on Labour (or the Whitley Commission on Labour) was a Royal Commission set up in 1929 to investigate the working conditions on plantations in India. The commission The Commission was chaired by John Henry Whitley. The comm ...

(1929) * Royal Commission on Agriculture (1928)

Mauritius

* Royal Commission on Slave Trade: Commissioners of Eastern Inquiry, Mauritius (1826–1828) * Fever Inquiry Commission in Mauritius (1866–1868) * Commission of Enquiry on living conditions of Indentured Coolies in Mauritius (1872–1874) * Commission of Enquiry into Unrest on Sugar Estates (Hooper Commission, 1937) * Commission of Enquiry into Disturbances in the North of Mauritius (Moody Commission, 1943) * Trustram-Eve Electoral Boundaries Commission (1957–1958) * Commission of Inquiry Sugar Industry by Balogh & Bennett (1962) * Banwell Commission on the Electoral System of Mauritius (1966) * Commission of Inquiry in corruption with Ministry of Social Security and Ministry of Cooperatives (1978–1979) * Commission of Enquiry on the Sugar Industry (1984) * Commission of Enquiry on Drugs (1986–1987) * Margo Commission of Enquiry on crash of South African Airways Flight 295 (1987) *

Truth and Justice Commission The Truth and Justice Commission of Mauritius was an independent truth commission established in 2009, which explored the impact of slavery and indentured servitude in Mauritius. The Commission was tasked to investigate the dispossession of land, ...

on the lasting impact of slavery and indentured labour (2009–2011) * Commission of Inquiry on Horse Racing in Mauritius (2014–2016) * Commission of Enquiry on Drug Trafficking (2015–2018) * Commission of Inquiry on the sale of Britam and BAI (2017–ongoing) * Commission of Inquiry on violation of the Constitution and other laws by former President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (2018–ongoing)

Malaysia

* Royal Commission on Salaries and Conditions of Service of the Public Service (1965) * Royal Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Workings of Local Authorities in West Malaysia (1968) * Royal Commission on the Teaching Services (1971) * Royal Commission of Inquiry on the collapse of the upper deck of the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth (1988) * Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate a fire at Sekolah Agama Rakyat Taufikah al-Halimah in Padang Lumat, Yan, Kedah (1989) * Royal Commission of Inquiry into the fire at the Bright Sparklers factory in Sungai Buloh New Village (1991) * Royal Commission to investigate alleged injuries suffered by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody (1999) * Royal Commission for Police Reform (2004) *

Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the V.K. Lingam Video Clip was formed in late 2007 to investigate into an allegation of illegal intervention into the judicial appointment process of Malaysian judges purportedly occurred in 2002. The formati ...

(2007–2008) * Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Teoh Beng Hock case (2010–present) *

Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah The Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah was formed on 11 August 2012 to investigate the problems relating to citizenship and immigrants in the state of Sabah in Malaysia. The inquiry is closely related to Project IC, the al ...

(2012–2014) * Royal Commission of Inquiry on Wang Kelian mass graves (2015–present) * Royal Commission of Inquiry into BNM forex losses (2017–present)

New Zealand

*Royal Commission on Mines (1911) *Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ballantyne's fire (1947–1948) *Royal Commission on Accident Compensation (1966–1967), which produced the Woodhouse Report and led to the formation of the Accident Compensation Corporation in 1974 * Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion (1975–1977) *Royal Commission into the Courts (1976–1978) *

Royal Commission on Nuclear Power Generation in New Zealand The Royal Commission on Nuclear Power Generation in New Zealand was set up in 1976 and reported back to the Government in 1978. The report concluded that there was no immediate need to generate electric power by nuclear means but it may be economica ...

(1976–1978) *Royal Commission on Maori Courts (1978–1980) *Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon the Circumstances of the Convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the Murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe (1980–1981) * Royal Commission of Inquiry into the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 (Also known as ''" The Mahon Inquiry"'') (1980–1981). The findings were successfully appealed to the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

, setting new legal standards for the conduct of royal commissions. * Royal Commission into Certain Matters Related to Drug Trafficking (1982–83) * Royal Commission on the Electoral System (1984–1986) investigated the electoral system, and led to New Zealand adopting the Mixed Member Proportional voting system in 1993. * Royal Commission on Broadcasting and Related Telecommunications (1985–1986) * Royal Commission on Social Policy (1986–1988) * Royal Commission on Genetic Modification (2000–2001) to look into and report on the issues surrounding genetic modification in New Zealand
Royal Commission on Police Conduct
(2004–2007) *

Royal Commission on Auckland Governance The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance was established by the New Zealand Government to investigate the local government arrangements of Auckland. The Labour Government of the time announced a Royal Commission into the governance of Auck ...

(2007–2009) *Royal Commission on the Pike River Mine tragedy (2011–2012) *Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failures Caused by Canterbury Earthquakes (2011–2012) *

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is a royal commission established in 2018 by the New Zealand government pursuant to the Inquiries Act 2013 to inquire into and report upon responses by institutions to instances and allegation ...

(2018–present) *Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch mosque shootings (2019–2020)

United Kingdom

* Royal Commission for inquiring into the nature and extent of the Instruction afforded by the several Institutions in Ireland established for the purpose of Education (1824) * Royal Commission on the Poorer Classes in Ireland (1833) *Royal Commission of Inquiry into the condition of the Hand-loom Weavers in England and Wales, Gloucestershie section (Miles, W.A., c.193
/
(archive.org) *

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Children's Employment The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Children's Employment was established by the UK Parliament. They conducted hundreds of interviews primarily with children, not merely about their working conditions but also as regards what education they recei ...

Great Exhibition The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary The Crystal Palace, structure in which it was held), was an International Exhib ...

and still exists as a charitable body endowed by the proceeds * Royal Commission on the Corporation of the City of London (1853–1854) led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the first London-wide local government body. * Royal Commission on County Courts (1853–1855) * Royal Commission on Birmingham Borough Prison (1853–1854) * Royal Commission on Bankruptcy Law (1853–1854) * Royal Commission on Leicester County Gaol (1853–1854) * Royal Commission on Newcastle Cholera (1853–1854) * Royal Commission on the Health of the Army (1856–1857) based on Florence Nightingale's reports on medical care during the Crimean War *

Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom The Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom was a committee formed in 1859 to enquire into the ability of the United Kingdom to defend itself against an attempted invasion by a foreign power, and to advise the British Government on ...

(1859) * Royal Commission on the State of Popular Education in England (1858–1861), also known as the '' Newcastle Commission'', looked into the state of public education in England in order to report what measures were required “for the extension of sound and cheap elementary instruction to all classes of the people” * Royal Commission on Transportation and Penal servitude (1863) * Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India (1863) * Royal Commission on the Public Schools (1861–1864), also known as the ''Clarendon Commission'', looked into the state of nine old-established

public schools Public school may refer to: *State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government *Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England and ...

* Royal Commission on Capital Punishment (1864–1866) * Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (1869) * Royal Commission on Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science (1875) * Royal Commission on the Factory Acts (1876) * Royal Commission on the Working of the Penal Servitude Actc &c (1878) * Royal Commission on Ship′s Tonnage Measurement (1880) *

Royal Commission on Technical Instruction The Royal Commission on Technical Instruction was a British Royal Commission that sat from 1881 until 1884 and was chaired by Sir Bernhard Samuelson. The Commission's terms of reference were "to inquire into the Instruction of the Industrial Clas ...

(1881–1884) * Royal Commission on Smallpox and Fever Hospitals (1881–1882) * Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Condition of Crofters and Cottars in the Highlands and Islands (1883–1884), also known as the ''Napier Commission'' * The Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes (1884–1885) * Royal Commission on the Depression in Trade and Industry (1885–1886) * Royal Commission on the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb and Others (1889) * Royal Commission on Market Rights and Tolls (1889–1891) * Royal Commission on the Amalgamation of the City and County of London (1889–1894) *

(1891–1892) * Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into the Water Supply of the Metropolis (1891–1893) *

Royal Commission on Secondary Education Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

(1895), also known as the ''Bryce Commission'' *

Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure The Welby Commission was a group set up by the British Government to investigate wasteful spending in India. Established in 1895, its official name was the Royal Commission on the Administration of Expenditure of India. The Commission membersh ...

(1896) *

Royal Commission on Tuberculosis The Royal Commission on Tuberculosis (1896–98), also known as the First Royal Commission on Tuberculosis was an early investigation into the history of tuberculosis (TB). On 24 April 1890, Lees Knowles, then parliamentary secretary to Charles Rit ...

(1896–1898), also known as the ''First Royal Commission on Tuberculosis'' * Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal (1898–1912) * Royal Commission on Water Supply within the Limits of the Metropolitan Water Companies (1899), which led to the creation of the Metropolitan Water Board * Royal Commission on the Port of London (1900–1902) * Royal Commission on South African Hospitals (1901) *

(1901–11), also known as the ''Second Royal Commission on Tuberculosis'' * Royal Commission on University Education in Ireland (1901–1903) * Royal Commission on the War in South Africa (1902–1903), also known as the ''Elgin Commission'' * Royal Commission on Superannuation in the Civil Service (1903) * Royal Commission on London Traffic (1903–1905) * Royal Commission on the Control of the Feeble-Minded (1904) The Times, 22 November 1904, ''Index'' p. 7 * Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress (1905–09) *

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) was an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government that was "sponsored" inanced and with oversightthrough Historic Scotland, an executive ...

(1908–2015) * Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (1908–present) * Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (1908–1999) * Royal Commission on the Registration of Title in Scotland (1910) * Royal Commission on Public Records (1910–1918) * Royal Commission on Divorce and Matrimonial Causes (1912) *

Royal Commission on Fuel and Engines The British Royal Commission on Fuel and Engines was established in the United Kingdom on 31 July 1912, and its remit was " report on the means of supply and storage of Liquid Fuel in peace and war, and its application to warship engines, whether ...

(1912) * Royal Commission on Vivisection (1912) * Royal Commission on the Housing of the Industrial Population of Scotland, Rural and Urban (1917), also known as the Ballantyne Commission * Royal Commission on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (1919), also known as the Asquith Commission * Royal Commission on London Government (1921–1923), also known as the ''Ullswater Commission'' * Royal Commission on Cross River Traffic in London (1926) * Royal Commission on Agriculture in India (1926–1928) * Royal Commission on Land Drainage (1927), chaired by Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, suggested sweeping changes in the administration of land drainage which were embodied in the Land Drainage Act 1930 *

Royal Commission on Police Powers and Procedure Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a ci ...

(September 1928 – March 1929) * Royal Commission on Local Government (1929) * Royal Commission on the Civil Service (1929–1931) * Royal Commission on Transport (1932) * Royal Commission on the University of Durham (1935), chaired by Lord Moyne * Royal Commission on Tithe Rentcharge in England and Wales (1936) *

Palestine Royal Commission The Peel Commission, formally known as the Palestine Royal Commission, was a British Royal Commission of Inquiry, headed by Lord Peel, appointed in 1936 to investigate the causes of unrest in Mandatory Palestine, which was administered by Gre ...

(1937) * Rhodesia-Nyasaland Royal Commission (1937–1939), also known as the ''Bledisloe Commission'', examined the possible closer union of Southern Rhodesia,

Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in southern Africa, south central Africa, now the independent country of Zambia. It was formed in 1911 by Amalgamation (politics), amalgamating the two earlier protectorates of Barotziland-North-West ...

and Nyasaland, and recommended a union of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland but ruled out any political amalgamation involving Southern Rhodesia due to its overtly racial policies. The Commission's recommendations were not put in place owing to the Second World War. * Royal Commission on the Distribution of the Industrial Population (1940) *

Royal Commission on the Press Three Royal Commissions on the Press were held in the United Kingdom during the 20th century. The first (1947–49) proposed the creation of a General Council of the Press to govern behaviour, promote consumer interests and conduct research into t ...

(1947–1949) * Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (1949–1951) *

Royal Commission on Population Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

(1949) * Royal Commission on Capital Punishment (1949–1953), also known as the ''Gowers Commission'' * Royal Commission on the Civil Service (1953–1955) *

Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a ci ...

(1956) * Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London (1957–1960), also known as the ''Herbert Commission'', which made recommendations for the overhaul of the administration of the capital that were implemented in a modified form by the London Government Act 1963 *

(1961–1962) * Royal Commission on the Police (1962) * Royal Commission on Medical Education (1965–1968) * Royal Commission on Local Government in England (1966–1969), also known as the ''Redcliffe–Maud Commission'' *

Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland The Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland, usually called the Wheatley Commission or the Wheatley Report (Cmnd. 4150), was published in September 1969 by the chairmanship of John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley, Lord Wheatley. Its recommendati ...

(1966–1969), also known as the ''Wheatley Commission'', which made recommendations that led to a new system of regional and district councils in Scotland introduced in 1975 under the

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975. The Act followed and largely implemented the report of the Royal Commission on Local Gove ...

* Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations (1968) * Royal Commission on the Constitution (1969–73), also known as the ''Kilbrandon Commission'' or the ''Crowther Commission'' * Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (1970–2011) *

(1974–1977) * Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life (1974–1976) *

Royal Commission on Legal Services Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

(1976), also known as the ''Benson Commission'' * Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury (1973–78), also known as the ''Pearson Commission'' * Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth (1977–1979) * Royal Commission on the National Health Service (1975–1979), chaired by Sir Alec Merrison * Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure (1981) *

Royal Commission on Criminal Justice The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, also known as the Runciman Commission, was established in London on 14 March 1991 by the Home Secretary for the purpose of examining the English system of criminal justice and make recommendations as to cha ...

(1991) * Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly (1998) * Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords (1999)

References

{{reflist, 30em Administrative law * Government commissions