Coronation - Inherited Wealth & Position in the 21st Century

I'm looking forward to watching the Coronation with some friends. I don't feel particularly strongly about royalty or republicanism, but I don't believe in inherited wealth & position. I do feel that we should move into the 21st century & not spend over £350 million of taxpayers money on a 3 day extravaganza. A YouGov survey found 51 per cent of adults agree with me that the ceremony should not be funded by public money, especially given the economic realities we face today.

There are currently 12 monarchies in Europe. Eleven of these are constitutional monarchies while one, (the Vatican City State), is a theocratic, elective, monarchy ruled by the Pope. 10 of these monarchies are hereditary. Seven are kingdoms, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Spain & the Netherlands. Belgium,  Andorra (semi elective), Liechtenstein & Monaco are principalities, while Luxemburg is a Grand Duchy.  We are the only European monarchy that still crowns their kings or queens. 

The origin of kingship in Europe goes back to tribal systems in prehistoric Europe. The alternative is republican forms of government, where executive power is in the hands of elected leaders instead of  hereditary succession. There are 16 European parliamentary republics - Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia & Malta.

I don't feel we should be "throwing the baby out with the bathwater". But I do feel that the death of Queen Elizabeth is an opportunity to completely re-evaluate how we run UK Plc. Tradition is all very well, but we need to consider how much of it is appropriate now. Some sort of "cost benefit analysis" seems like a good idea. Attitudes & demographics have changed enormously. 

Britain, more than any other European country I can think of, is still rooted in the class system, which is exemplified by the monarchy & our traditions. I just don't think that is necessarily a good thing any more. We should be more of a meritocracy where what you can contribute, your skills, your education & experience, matter more than your wealth, your networks & your birth. 

Until we really look at that & decide what we want to be as a nation we won't reach our full potential & we will continue to decline.