I'm still basking in the after glow of the recent Coronation.

@HowardP No, but that’s irrelevant. It doesn’t matter who is the monarch so long as he or she does the job properly, and is completely independent of politics.

@MartinII well said Martin

@MartinII With all due respect - how I love that phrase - my comment was not irrelevant, as I was merely commenting on the bizarre concept - pun intended - that a head of state, however symbolic, should be irrevocably decided by a random fuck. And while I agree entirely with you that the ideal head of state is a wholly apolitical person (a utopian fantasy) the hereditary sperm-based system has produced some pretty diabolical individuals over time, and even in Britain's recent history with technically a constitutional monarch, it is well-documented that Victoria did heavily influence political direction on a number of issues.

Once a week the notoriously political Charles sees the increasingly spineless Rishi. Can you imagine if Sunak told Charles that the next proposed amendment to the Climate Change Act 2008 was the reversal - plus some - of May's insane amendment to be net zero by 2050, and bring it down to a more realistic 50%. Guess who would walk out of the room chastened and changed,

So hereditary monarchy based on a fallopian tube collision, is a very shaky foundation for head of state. But, quite obviously, a Head of state elected by universal franchise is so much worse, but with the advantage that he/she is not there for life, nor succeeded by their misbegotten offspring.

Just an afterthought. The least bad way of choosing an apolitical head of state is that employed by countries like Germany, Israel and Italy, where the politician get to choose, and on the principle that they will never risk anyone who will undermine their power, invariable chose a genuinely good, non-controversial, non-political person who represents their country nobly on the international scene, and avoids any interference on the domestic scene, except when constitutionally obliged to do so.

Second afterthought! This direct from the Palace web site:
[b]Political Audiences
The King holds a weekly Audience with the Prime Minister to discuss Government matters. ,,,,,,,,, he is able to 'advise and warn' his ministers - including his Prime Minister - when necessary[/b].

I don't know about you, but when Father, Headmaster or King of England "warned me" I took it to be an unequivocal "warning off:.