I was actually debating about the future of the monarchy with my father yesterday.
I'm sort of neutral. I'm not a die hard monarchist but I'm not a die hard republican either.
People often say that the scandals (Andrew, H&M) are the biggest threat to the monarchy today but I disagree.
I actually think the biggest threat to the monarchy is its growing irrelevance and the way the younger royals seem to be approaching their roles.
Let me explain.
The monarchy has survived plenty of scandals before. The 90s are a good example. As damaging as some of the recent scandals have been, I don't think they're necessarily what will bring the institution down. What I see is people simply becoming more and more indifferent to it.
One thing I've noticed is the difference between the older and younger generations of working royals.
The late Queen, Princess Anne, the Gloucesters, the Kents and others have followed a more traditional approach to royal duty. They attend hundreds of engagements yearly, support countless charities, visit hospitals, schools, organisations, and constantly make themselves available to the public.
Most of their work barely makes the news, which is unfortunate because I think that's where much of the monarchy's value lies.
The Queen famously said that she had to be seen to be believed, and I think she had a point. A royal visit might seem meaningless to some people, but for a small charity, that spotlight can mean a great deal.
The younger generation (basically the Waleses) have a totally different approach.
Less engagement and more focus on long term project.
While I understand their approach, I struggle with it a little bit
Because that'd mean that a lot of these small charities would stop benefitting from royal attention.
Also, many of the older working royals are old or getting a lot older. Princess Anne, the Gloucesters and the Duke of Kent cannot continue indefinitely. We don't know how much time the King still has. Who is going to take over all of their responsibilities?
I also think the Waleses have issues connecting with the younger generation, my generation.
They have their fans and I know they do some charitable work but I find their public image to be too polished, too perfect, very managed to the point where I, and I'm sure many, struggle to connect to them.
We hear so much about their appearances at sporting events, their clothes, their family image but very little about the actual results of their charitable work.
And before anyone brings up Catherine's illness, because I know someone will, I'm not referring to her treatment or recovery. The discussion about their limited work is years old.
Sometimes, I feel like the younger royals are becoming more celebrities than public servants. I'm not saying they can't go to games or go to Wimbledon but I think their public profile has become much more about their image than their work.
Another issue is that a lot of people loved, ,or at the very least, respected the late Queen. She was the only monarch most of us ever knew.
Unfortunately for the other royals, that respect is not hereditary. It cannot be passed down from one monarch to the next.
Also, I just think most people don't see the point in having a monarchy anymore.
What does it contribute to society, beyond the ceremonies, the traditions and the occasional major royal event?
I keep hearing that William will modernize the monarchy but what does it actually mean?
Does it just mean fewer engagements?
I think my generation enjoy following royal news, weddings, fashion or family drama, but don't feel any attachment to the institution itself.
And I think the Palace amd monarchists don't realise that
Scandals come and go. Public indifference is much harder to reverse.
More and more people stopped seeing the point of having a monarchy, no amount of good PR or carefully staged appearances will be enough to change that.