All this is fascinating if not currently particularly relevant stuff; we need a head of state and on balance the people here in the UK respect and admire the two members of the royal family in particular - the Queen and her ageing mother - notwithstanding all the evidence that HRH Queen Mother etc is indeed a manipulative old schemer who learnt how to manipulate the press to her own advantage 65 years ago. The reason is simply that neither really says anything at all and what is said is bland and noncontroversial. The lesson here seems to be to let the hereditary priveleged have their lifestyle as long as they keep stum and don't rock the boat. Let the politicians do the talking and stand by their actions. The result of abolishing the monarchy would be insignificant materially and culturally dimishing for most people here. If they are non controversial and private, even boring - long may it continue!