I have mixed feelings. In one way, it’s good to have a figurehead that’s separate from the government. The armed forces and, I believe, the police forces swear allegiance to the Crown, rather than Parliament.
On the other hand, apart from the Queen, the rest of them seem to be not much more than celebs. Though William does try to do something useful in his air ambulance work. The recent royal visit to India didn’t seem to be much more than a couple of 30-somethings go abroad and have fun.
As a whole, they don’t seem to live in the real world. The Queen seems fixed into the pattern laid down by her parents, and continues with some anachronistic views, even down to when Camilla curtseys to Catherine or vice versa even when in private, and the several required changes of clothing when the family is “on holiday” at Balmoral. The traditional robes of the Order of the Garter are bizarre if you look at what gets tied around their necks. I can’t see Charles being any different.
They don’t seem to be very well educated/intelligent. And I don’t recall much focus on science and engineering, which is what actually made Britain great.
I suppose that ultimately the question is: What is the monarchy for? Is it to represent the country to the outside world, or to represent us to ourselves? Pomp and circumstance would do for the former; some obvious realisation of ordinary daily lives would do for the latter.
They, and we, could do with looking at other constitutional monarchies, because some of those seem to work better than the system we’ve got here.
And as for a Presidency: we’ve already seen what the elections for the Mayor of London can be like – lots and lots of money thrown at campaigns fronted by celebrity-type people. (So, not much difference there.)
The best thing, I think, is for the Monarchy to gradually fade into the background, but retain their figurehead role. I think the Queen’s Speech at the opening of Parliament does have a useful role – though preferably without the robes and crown – because that’s a reminder that the government-of-the-day doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have supreme power to do what it likes. Even a majority parliament doesn’t speak for everyone, and the presence of an “outsider” signifies that.
Charles, of course, will continue with the robes and the crown, because he seems to like that sort of thing.
I don’t think anything will change much during Charles’ reign. I do have some hopes for when it’s William’s turn, because he does seem to have more of a clue than his father and grandmother about real life. And, of course, he’ll have mixed feelings because of his mother.