Why Royalty Still Works in the UK and Elsewhere

Queen Elizabeth II's popularity is attributed to her character rather than her accomplishments, but is this truly accurate?

[{"selector":"#anim-0cfbc3ff-a1f9-4e78-94a8-832942f43518","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-841d90bb-c308-4acc-a5ee-5e46048a34bc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa1f8bae-13ca-437d-9622-d8488af0a9d8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.27023088776318754%, -1.0653406979189546%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The concept of hereditary rule contradicts our values, but Queen Elizabeth II's personal qualities made her exceptional.

[{"selector":"#anim-51487279-f874-458e-8ffd-de94e02dd8e8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.4729040535855745%, -1.0653406979189546%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38d27861-66cf-4302-aad5-d634398c65c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68b14723-6af1-4dee-8f9b-22b95cfb48cf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Rulers are either corrupt or merit-based, depending on the type of governance, ranging from autocracy to strong democracy.

[{"selector":"#anim-80c6d42f-e50c-4a7b-bd3e-dfe9f9ca7cc6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.513001540921413%, -1.2428975268748506%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e584e87e-f9f1-41bc-9767-e7c28a9e7b16","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-283e2839-2f1d-4043-bc7e-9d6bf6988b63","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

In the UK, politicians are believed to rule based on merit, as the country is seen as more meritocratic than corrupt.

[{"selector":"#anim-7e85705a-bc87-4ba9-8591-f7d7a9073f9e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.9995628541713635%, -1.0653406979189546%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64571c25-8e08-453f-8412-a95311357511","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8321439-66db-4846-aec5-0b5ffb5b11a4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Meritocracy's credibility falters as individuals question if leaders rule based on superiority, citing systemic corruption concerns.

[{"selector":"#anim-f968c2f6-8df8-4ac0-9e6c-1bebed630228 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.00371472597755%, -1.6233764460660562%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5520028-c9ce-47f6-985a-86ad370e3c4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d58013f4-eb1b-41ee-b3b4-105cb4738a13","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Hereditary rule contradicts meritocracy, yet paradoxically enables monarchy to exist within a meritocratic and democratic era.

[{"selector":"#anim-618b1f87-25a2-459c-9a8d-d6025918ad1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.544176501503922%, -1.0146101753601255%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71cfc52a-b0c6-4aac-bb43-2778e5073aba","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57213e28-2328-41cd-843d-3f2021cfe2a3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Queen Elizabeth II's status as queen was not earned through merit, but rather inherited, making her no inherently better at the role.

[{"selector":"#anim-109727e1-a80f-4aaa-a6af-bd512f49c659 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -1.0146101753601255%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-369c1bb1-bbcb-45b8-bd62-d00fef358e5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-457220ac-53a2-49c0-b19a-6a84a9790fc0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Despite its unedifying nature, royalty serves as a fallback against worse corruption when we doubt meritocracy's existence.

[{"selector":"#anim-fa398d34-403c-4f74-8f5e-f33ff467f1b6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.07720882507519636%, -1.0146101753601255%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eba78035-9040-4fb7-ba2a-c1418b6836c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-768ec523-cf0a-4a8b-aa0c-538497a71ad8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-8f2054ff-58b4-46c9-b20e-cb006621db2a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]