"There are more than one variety of Republicanism, Backwoodsman. The USA doesn't have a patent on the word."

Precisely my point, McG - the last thing I'd want to be is a Republican in the US sense. However, as a life-long supporter of the U.K. system of democracy, a Kingdom with a benign, benevolent monarchy as Head of State, I'm finding myself increasingly in favour of becoming a republic, with an elected president. The latest royal-wedding-circus is but one more factor in my slow, but sure, conversion.