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As a determined imperialist, i'm all for the monarchy in every form, it's an institution that dates back thousands of years, and is just part of britain at every level.
I'm filled with pride when i see the masses at the gates to Buckingham Palace (when i say masses, i mean half of the commonwealth) singing happy birthday to the queen, it's a sight you just don't see that often, if ever, elsewhere in the world.
The monarchy is an institution that will bring a country together, a figurehead who everyone can respect and be proud of.
I know theres a lot of pomp and circumstance (pun intended) around the monarchy today, and thats part of the magic of it all. Theres nothing like watching the trooping of the colour, or the horse guards parading down the mall, or the fireworks going off in southhampton after the queen names a liner.
but then again, i'm a dying breed, so most of that probably won't apply to other britons.
off topic ramble:
What i do think however, is how different the world would be if the English civil war had turned out differently.
For those who arn't awares, in the mid 16-1700s (correct me if i'm wrong, dates arn't my strong suit) parliment rebeled against the monarchy, and the english civil war ensued. At the end the parlimentarians one, executing King Charles I.
It was decided though several years later to restor the monarchy, albeit with greatly reduced powers, so started the reign of king Charles II.
This was before time of empire and granduer, so if the royalists had one, we'd probably be having the conversation of 'parliment, what do you think?'.
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