What is the purpose of the British aristocracy?

They are a leftover from the middle ages of no actual use or purpose in the modern age. read more

The aristocracy (a.k.a. the peerage) just exists because of historical development. A lot of people try to curry favour with them, just as many try to get away from them. The received wisdom was that the aristocracy provided social control for the king, but that's more relevant in mediaeval and feudal times. read more

British nobility. In everyday speech, [clarification needed] the British nobility consists of members of the Noble Houses (peers and their families); however, in a more strict legal sense it includes both the titled and the untitled nobility, the latter being termed"gentry". read more

The peerage is a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles in the United Kingdom (as elsewhere in Europe), composed of various noble ranks, and forming a constituent part of the British honours system. The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of nobles (or a subdivision thereof), and individually to refer to a specific title (modern English language-style using an initial capital in the former case but not the latter). read more