Why is the monarchy still useful to us do you think?

Young Fogey on BBC: "I think really the crown epitomises the equivalent of the soul of the man in philosophy. It is the life force of the state. Everything we have in this country emanates from the crown, it is the source of all power, but it also upholds those fundamental pillars of civil society. It is the national focal point - most countries of the world are born out of bloodshed and independence, like Independence Day in America and Bastille Day in France – we don’t have that, so the crown is the focal point for our national identity. We come together as a nation, it unites us as a people. Social cohesion comes into being through things like royal weddings and diamond jubilees, and through that it gives us in an era of globalisation, when we seem to be unsure of who we are, it provides us with that grounding element that we need. In addition to that it is the supreme example of civic duty, the monarchy exemplifies the Big Society, the concepts of engaging in philanthropic activities and engaging in charitable endeavors, and also very much the issue of moral leadership, through examples of the Queen and her mother through self-sacrifice and dedication to duty.

So those are the things that the sovereign and crown serve as head of the nation as opposed to just head of state. Head of state is the constitutional functions, opening parliaments and signing bills - but as head of the nation, the Queen and the monarchy are the spiritual and social heart of the nation. Those are two separate roles. I don’t think any other form of government enables the playing of those two things together."

You can listen to the rest of the Young Fogey BBC interview here.