A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation on how to exercise their executive authority, 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 monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on affairs of state.

In non-monarchical nations, the equivalent body is the cabinet, although in some nations the cabinet is a committee of the privy council.

Privy councils

Functioning ones

• : Federal Executive Council of Australia
• : Privy Council of Brunei
• : Queen's Privy Council for Canada
  • Privy Council Office (Canada)
  • Executive councils of the provinces and territories
• : Danish Council of State
• : Executive Council
• : Executive Council of New Zealand
• : Privy Council of Tonga
• : Privy Council (Thailand)
• : Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council
  • Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Former ones

• : Conseil du Roi (abolished 1799)
• Germany: Geheimrat (abolished 1918)
• Ireland: Privy Council of Ireland (abolished 1922)
• : Privy Council of Japan (abolished 1947)
• Northern Ireland: Privy Council of Northern Ireland (made dormant 1972)
• : Supreme Privy Council (abolished 1730)
• : Privy Council of Scotland (abolished 1707)
• : Privy Council of Sweden (abolished 1974)

See also

• Council of State
• Crown Council
• State Council

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