I describe myself as a pragmatic Republican as I would like to see hereditary monarchy slowly phased down over a duration and proper objective time spent on getting the right model in to replace the Head of State. Definitely not an "off with their heads" now type Republican.
I also know that the alternative is not necessarily going to be automatically better so careful thought is needed.
However I'm 100% against a hereditary monarchy and I'm also an atheist so the whole belief system that they are anointed is meaningless to me. On a cynical level this whole well planned tour and proclamations of "King" Charles with no room or space to question anything could be seen as a state-led exercise in national gaslighting....
But................. I've been glued to the news, I've cried on a number of occasions, or had tears in my eyes, and have felt it (for some reason) deeply poignant that she died in her favourite place and her coffin has made that beautiful journey through Scotland.
I respected the Queen - who wouldn't. She showed dedication and committed to to her country and to what she believed until the day she died and sacrificed her whole life to it when she could have chosen to be a lady of leisure.
But despite respecting her, I never expected to feel so deeply sad. I'm so sad considering she was a grand old age. I'm so sad she lost Phillip and seemed to decline so much, and of course how she followed the rules at his funeral. I'm so sad her son (Andrew) turned out to be such a dick and caused her pain, and that she might never have known how much people respected her. I felt sad seeing her coffin leaving Scotland and thinking she'll never go there again.
Why do I feel so sad? Is it possible to be a Republican and feel this way? Does this make me a Royalist or just a human?
Responses from other Republicans please?