The subtitle of England's recent election is that Her Majesty the Queen had the last word.
With all the pomp, politesse and reverence, it would be hard to imagine that across the pond a whole bunch of her subjects want to give her the pink slip. Especially when one of her royal family gets into a royal mess. "End the constitutional monarchy! If they act like the rest of us, let them stand in line like the rest of us!"
The sentiment has value; stirrings of democracy moved that country to a constitutional monarchy from the off-with-your-head variety.
But what is the citizenry reaching for, to turn themselves into royalty or to make royalty more like them? Undeniably when the royals try to show a common touch they end up being just common—but why does it disappoint? Doesn't our disappointment in them testify that we expect better? When they let us down, does that not show that they are meant to be the standard bearers? And if the standard bearers go, then what happens to the standard? Does everyone attain the standard, or does the standard get shelved in the attic?
Royalty demands bearing a standard that is greater than the individual, personifying an ideal that was bequeathed not for you to do as you like, but to protect for progeny. Not to live for the moment but to make the moment live suspended in a chain of succession of noble forbearers and towards the promise of the future. It is inherently optimistic.
Royalty, paradoxically enough, is essentially humility; standing in awe of the majesty of your charge and being totally defined by it. Being so bound to your subjects as to lose all identity other than the subjects'. Not calling attention to the self—for this deflects attention from the call of duty. Hence the kabbalah defines majesty as essentially feminine. (We confuse royalty with tyranny only because lousy royals have consistently done so.)
Being the queen is not easy; it is most likely the most arduous vocation on earth. Jewish tradition prescribes the recitation of a blessing upon viewing a monarch. Regardless of whether the monarchists or republicans prevail (note the small r), royalty will still garner attention, lots of it.
If introspection follows, then her Majesty will become our own.
