I hae often disagreed with Teribus, but I give him a big 'thank you' for the summary of the estates and their profitability. I have read most of that at some time or other, but it would take me quite an effort to dig it out and summarize as well as he has done.

In addition to that side of the coin, is the tremendous pride that the Crown provides to many people, evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of ordinary folk around the Commonwealth who celebrated.

I am originally an America, now a Canadian. The British democracy is flawed, like the American and Canadian (and it seems the Australian), but it gives most people a reasonably good life, and the flaws have much to do with our own current convictions, right or wrong, when we enter the voting booth, and nothing to do with a constitutional monarchy.

(I liked Charles' intervention. Looks like he will make an interesting King.)