The British monarchy is such an outdated institution. What is insipid about it - is the way it formalises anti-egalitarianism in society. I do not see why one person should bow and curtsey to another, just by virtue of the relative circumstances of birth of those persons. What this is saying is that there is an elite and that " I as a "subject" [not a citizen - as in a republic] will never become a part of it". It is sad to see people who for most their lives had appeared to express high ideals and equality, collaborating with this anachronism by accepting a "gong", such as a knighthood [arise Sir Mick, of Jumping Jack Flash], a peerage [Lord Archer of Wormwood Scrubbs Prison - the Tory scribbler - error - he was never an idealist]. What a load of old nonsense. How refreshing to see people in the USA living the American Dream where theoretically anyone can aspire to the top job. What does this say about the relative merits of the two societies? Feb 2003: Sadly the present incumbent of the White House was "elected" in rather dubious circumstances for which I fear we will all pay a price. The system was not found wanting. Rather the system was hijacked by dis-enfranchising a significant proportion of people of colour.
Yet we hear, here in the UK, that Americans love the British monarchy. I suggest that some Americans have a romantic interest in leprachauns, Dynasty ( or its 21st century equivalent), Hollywood celebrities, Disneyland, but I'm sure that they wouldn't hand over an arm of govenment to any of these fanciful entities.
Monarchy ossifies the class system.