In Britain, the Privy Council is a group of people who are appointed to advise the king or queen on political affairs.
privy council in British English
noun
1.
the council of state of a monarch or noble, esp formerly
2.
(in Canada) a ceremonial body of advisers of the governor general, the chief of them being the Federal cabinet ministers
3. archaic
a private or secret council
Privy Council in British English
noun
the private council of the British sovereign, consisting of all current and former ministers of the Crown and other distinguished subjects, all of whom are appointed for life
See also Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Derived forms
Privy Counsellor
noun
privy council in American English
a body of advisors or confidential counselors appointed by or serving a ruler, esp. a monarch
Derived forms
privy councilor
Examples of 'privy council' in a sentence
privy council
Coffee cups in hand, the officials had apparently just finished an early morning privy council meeting.
Gregory Maguire WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST (1995)