Workingman wrote:Then we get King Charles. He is a moderniser and somewhat of a secularist. It will be interesting to see how his reign goes.
I agree WM, Charles is a bit of a wildcard. Perhaps he will remember that it was one of his namesakes that was beheaded??
I think, with Charles, Camilla is a stabilising influence and a strong sounding board for him. It will help.
A couple of decades ago I read some articles about Charles where the press had talked to his Navy colleagues. There was deep respect and a great liking for him whilst he served, the impression I got was that there were two Charles', the one the press wanted us to believe in and the one that people who had worked with him actually knew.
Whilst I might, once, have had leanings towards republicanism, the view of Presidents like Macron and Trump and other US presidents has led me to believe that we are actually better off with what we have. It is cheaper, more stable and isn't trying to grow its power base. If anything it is slimming down the power base. Yes it leaves some entitled in a very strong position of power. But, that being said, they only need to use the power, just once, before the elected reprobates will seek to take it away.
That is far and away from the attempts of other heads of state to strengthen their power base. Macron, in France, for example, has far more real power than the Queen has in the UK. As such he is a far more dangerous entity than the Queen. His office also costs the state far, far, more than the Queen who, essentially because she pays taxes and surrenders the crown estate revenues, costs the country absolutely nothing. In fact the Queen is a net earner for the government before you even get to tourism.
Whilst my rebellious nature would normally be wholly against the monarchy. I'd rather have a family with a sense of duty up there than a bunch of self serving politicians with a sense of Entitlement. First lady Cherie anyone? If that doesn't make you shudder then you are not thinking it all the way through.
Just my view but I'd like to take it away from the loss and sadness and put it on a different level.