Kentish Express Ashford & District
Why monarchy still best system
I am afraid the deplorable attack on the royal family by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has rejuvenated the republicans among us who, though small in number, never give up trying to destroy the monarchy.
In reality the system at which we have arrived over centuries of social evolution, of the monarch in parliament, has proved to be the best yet devised.
When I studied British Constitution, my lecturer said the most important thing about a constitutional monarchy was a figure, not chosen by political manoeuvring, was the symbol of the nation, but did not possess executive power, and that while he, or she, was in place no ambitious demagogue could take over as the symbolic head of the armed forces, the judiciary, parliament etc.
Were our head of state to emerge from the political arena, they would inevitably be divisive, as one can imagine had they been any of our recent Prime Ministers.
The hereditary nature of the monarchical system has saved us from a President Heath, Blair, or Corbyn, or whoever might succeed in reaching the position.
One only has to observe the manner in which the confrontational American presidential system is now tearing that country apart to see how fortunate we are to have a non-political figure above the fray who can unite the nation.
We are doubly fortunate we have had such an exemplary model of decency, and duty, as the present Queen, while both Charles and William seem likely to continue where she has led.
However, it is not the personality involved, as we no longer need fear despotic monarchs such as Henry VIII, but it is the fact of their existence that protects the stability of the nation.
Regrettably the decline in educational standards in this country has led to many of the younger generation adopting emotional, rather than logical positions on such matters, so I fear that in the future we may see a successful attempt to change the constitution in the direction desired by the metropolitan elitists.
If so, it will be a sad day for our democratic system. It is not as if our monarch costs the nation as much as elected presidents like Macron, or Biden, and the whole institution makes for continuity
and even a more successful tourism industry.