Why monarchy is important

Events like jubilees and coronations give us not only days off yay! Governments come and go — they can even be toppled — but Monarchy endures. The continuity a Sovereign brings to their country ensures stability through a single figure, who often has the power to intervene should a situation require it, assisting in running the state as part of a system of checks and balances.

Political scientist Victor Menaldo finds that from to , Monarchies in the Middle East offered much more stability than other forms of government; they are more likely to survive in office, and help keep factions and extreme groups in check, like Morocco, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Politicians are always said to be untrustworthy — making promises before an election, then going back on them afterwards. Polls show that now, more than ever, politicians are not considered to be trustworthy.

Petra Schleiter and Edward Morgan-Jones suggest that governments with constitutional monarchies are more likely to consult their people with early elections, in comparison to both appointed and directly elected presidents. In China, The Queen and Royal Family has an impact on the perception of brands, meaning consumers are more likely to buy it if seen on a Royal. Heirs to the throne are usually raised to know their position and to learn the ropes of their future job.

Making too much money is considered taboo. As the mouthpiece of that government, she theoretically has no opinions of her own — and the same goes for her relatives. The British royal family are not supposed to express political opinions, although they are allowed to support football teams Prince William cheers on Aston Villa.

People identify with people. Politicians come and go, but over the generations a successful royal family creates a sense of human continuity at the heart of a society. People get to know their royals — the ones they look up to and the ones they do not.

From to , for example, Princess Diana , the maverick Princess of Wales, topped many of the royal popularity polls — not just in Britain, but all over the world. Want to know even more about the real events from history that inspired the drama? Read more from the experts…. This paid for more than 3, royal engagements at home and abroad, with over , guests being welcomed at royal palaces for events like garden parties and investitures.

That is a lot of money, but in alone more than 2. Enter your email address now to receive news, features, podcasts and more. Thanks for signing up to receive our royal newsletter. Manage your newsletter preferences now. By entering your details, you are agreeing to HistoryExtra's terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time. In , at the height of the bitter and deadly First World War against Germany and its allies, King George V decided that all these treble-barrelled names and German titles sounded unpatriotic.

He subsequently renamed the family after the English market town where they spent their weekends — Windsor, 25 miles west of London on the River Thames in Berkshire. Today, the line of succession of the House of Windsor runs down through Prince Charles 1 , to his son Prince William 2 and then to his eldest son, Prince George 3. Individual monarchs can be forced to abdicate; and support for the institution as a whole can be tested in a referendum.

During the twentieth century there were 18 referendums held on the monarchy in nine European countries. It was through referendums that the monarchy came to an end in Italy and Greece, and was restored in Spain; and through referendums that the future of the monarchy was endorsed in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg and Norway. The monarchy may seem the very antithesis of a democratic or accountable institution; but ultimately continuation of the monarchy depends on the continuing support of the people for the roles it is seen to undertake.

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