 The Privy Council formally advises the sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative , and corporately ( as Queen @-@ in @-@ Council ) it issues executive instruments known as Orders in Council , which among other powers enact Acts of Parliament . The Council also holds the delegated authority to issue Orders of Council , mostly used to regulate certain public institutions . The Council advises the sovereign on the issuing of Royal Charters , which are used to grant special status to incorporated bodies , and city or borough status to local authorities . Otherwise , the Privy Council 's powers have now been largely replaced by the Cabinet of the United Kingdom . 
