God Save the Queen! - Why Monarchy Is Relevant in the Modern Age

With everybody anxiously awaiting the series 3 release of the hit Netflix original show The Crown, which chronicles the life and reign of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, there are some important core themes present in the show that are still relevant today. In season one of The Crown, we are introduced to the world of the British Monarchy at a time where everything about Britain had be shaken to its very core by the horrific event of World War II. From the very first episode the stage is set and we’re confronted with the grim reality of George VI’s lung cancer as he’s coughing up blood in a dimly lit washroom toilet. Although he doesn’t yet know his fate, his desire to make sure his family are in good standing become stronger.

Having had the crown thrust upon him after his older brother David (former King Edward VIII) abdicated the throne in order to marry his beloved American divorcee Wallis Simpson, he was fully aware that he was not ready to take on the heavy burden of the crown and the anxiety set in. Growing up, Albert Windsor (King George VI) was a rather shy child dealing with a severe speech impediment and knock knees. Life was not easy for him. In comparison to his brother David, he was a rather shy and reserved character living in the shadow of his extroverted older brother. Despite his disabilities, Albert eventually married the lovely Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the strong-willed and charming daughter of the Earl of Strathmore. Elizabeth had quickly become his biggest support and it was because of his union with her that he was able to overcome his fears and fully take on the responsibility of the crown. By the the end of the second episode, the king succumbs to his disease and passes away in his sleep after a day of doing the things he loved surrounded by the people he loved. When word reaches the princess Elizabeth while on royal tour in Africa, she has little time to grieve the loss of her beloved Papa as she’s immediately confronted with the duties of being the new Queen.

Duty and sacrifice for stability are two of the most prevalent themes exhibited in The Crown. These themes are the very essence of a constitutional monarchy and why I believe with such certainty that a constitutional monarchy is not only still very relevant in the modern age, but an overall better system of government. Now you may be asking yourself, why? Younger generations that dwell in countries that have such a system of government may feel that their monarchies are nothing but a pointless figurehead and, to that I say—what a load of absolute nonsense.

In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, monarchy is what defines British society. What is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Britain? The Queen. Yes, it’s all well and good—the Queen and her corgis, the beautiful extended royal family, the grandiose weddings and royal babies; but what is the point of it all? The monarchy is an institution that is above politics and temporal matters of government. It’s because of the fact that it is not directly involved with politics that it appeals to people and provides a point of unification regardless of political affiliation. It’s this sense of unity that allows for an overall stability in British society. The Monarchy has a deep hold on the loyalties of the people and it gives them something to be proud of. By comparison, the Americans are usually split down the middle by their affiliations to political parties and the platforms on which they stand; this creates a volatile environment in which people turn others away due to their political views. While Britain is not entirely and exception to this problem, the monarchy as an overarching institution prevents such division from getting out of hand. When was the last time the people of the United Kingdom flooded in the streets of London chanting “Not my Queen!” Never.

The monarchy also provides a system of checks and balances for elected officials, requiring the sovereign’s approval before any laws go into effect or any major decisions are made by the government. Although the sovereign is not permitted by the constitution to make laws or govern directly, he or she has a lot more influence in such matters than one might think. Every elected official, especially the prime minister, is required to swear an oath to the sovereign and to serve the government which is in their name. When the PM is invited to Buckingham Palace after winning a general election, he or she is asked to swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and to form a government in her name. This essentially makes the PM and their government answerable to the sovereign and any acts that are performed by the government reflects upon the sovereign as well—so therefore her majesty becomes a sort of conscience.

One does not work without the other.

In Netflix’s The Crown, the young queen grapples with what it means to be a constitutional monarch. What is or is not constitutionally acceptable on behalf of the monarch is difficult to say as the British constitution itself is not codified (written down) like other countries' such as the United States. Instead the British constitution is a very abstract concept which is comprised of court case rulings, parliament acts, and documents such as the Magna Carta which limits the powers of the sovereign and holds them within a rule of law. Young Queen Elizabeth, in season one, is dealing with a prime minister who is lying to her and a government which is unstable due to the major health issues of the men in charge. Upon discovery of all the happenings within her government, her majesty is forced to lay down the law so to speak and remind them what it means to be a constitutional monarch.

The government and the monarchy do not exist as separate entities. They exist as two parts of a whole system of government and in order to work they must trust and communicate with each other. The role of the monarch is not to make and execute policy but to consult, advise, warn and to provide proper governance (meaning they can appoint and dismiss a prime minister or any other government official under the right circumstances). The role of the government is to run the country and ensure that policies and laws are implemented, ensure the economic and general health and well being of the country. They balance each other out.

Monarchy is an inspiration.

The royal family’s sense of duty and devotion to Great Britain is an inspiration to us all. As we’ve seen in The Crown, the sacrifices the members of the royal family made for the sake of the greater stability of the entire nation as well as its people were immense. Those of us who fancy ourselves to be monarchists relate to them on this note particularly. It is incredibly inspiring to have something to look up to, in order to help guide us in our everyday lives—helping us to become better people and more devoted citizens of the world. We are a part of it all—the pomp and circumstance, the glamour, the glory. We are all a part of the royal family.

I am very open about being a monarchist. Having lived most of my life in the U.S. it’s a concept that’s entirely foreign to most Americans and I’m always asked a plethora of questions about what I believe and why I think monarchy is a good system of government. I support a system where the head of state is a king or queen. Do I think that person should have unparalleled power? Absolutely not. Do I think that the people should not have a say in the way they’re governed? Absolutely! Monarchy is not a threat to democracy. Some of the most democratic countries in the world are, in fact, monarchies. These countries include Sweden, Denmark, Norway and of course the United Kingdom; these nations are also known to be some of the most prosperous with a very happy population.

I feel that being a monarchist gives me the freedom to be above politics in a manner similar to that of the sovereign. The monarch can have their own opinions on political matters and so can I; However they have a duty to represent their people and their countries without political issue. I can see matters of politics from a more whole point of view, rather than aligning myself with one political party and their views. I am able to compartmentalize of the issues of politics and have an overall broader view.

Yes, monarchy is still relevant in the modern age. The royals are people I can look up to for comfort, joy, happiness. They are a family that we are all a part of and I am proud of my grandmother the Queen. I am proud to be a part of a family and a history that goes back more than 1000 years. So when you’re sitting down with a nice hot cuppa to binge watch series 3 of The Crown on Netflix, keep all of this in mind. Her majesty the Queen has endured trials and tribulations which has made her into the person she is today. She has devoted her entire life to the service of her people and "... to this great imperial family to which we all belong."

God Save the Queen!