What purpose does the monarchy serve, save for selling newspapers and making the country look simply ridiculous?
William Howard, 31 San Diego, California Practically every country has a head of state and there are of course many different arguments for and against that head being elected or not. In the end, the question of which must be a question of public sentiment. An advantage of an unelected head over one which is elected – and not determined in advance – is that it takes the question of the succession out of politics. It also provides historical continuity, acting as a reminder of the nation’s past in a harmless way. Finally, an unelected head without political powers but with a high degree of legitimacy can be useful as a source of calm and neutral advice, unaffected by the pressures of the moment – but that obviously depends on the individual. Equally obviously, a bad or inadequate monarch can be a serious embarrassment. Would you agree that Diana’s death caused a constitutional crisis that was make or break time for the Royal Family Gemma, 16 Florida, USA It was certainly a critical mome
