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Britain’s feudal head of state Elizabeth Windsor is the 12th richest hereditary ruler in the world according to Forbes magazine. Windsor’s £349m net worth is exceeded by the so-called "royal" rulers of Thailand, the United Arab Emirates/Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Qatar, Morocco, Monaco, Oman
Of the 14 countries with wealthy monarchs with which Britain keeps company, 7 are rated as "unfree" by Freedom House, and 3 as "partly free". The "free" countries are all in Europe.
William Windsor is being projected as the acceptable face of feudalism in a continuing effort to protect the Windsor family’s privileges.
"Prince William determined to tackle republicanism in Australia" was how the monarchist Telegraph newspaper headlined a report on his visit to one of the former colonies that share Britain’s hereditary head of state. According to the Telegraph "On the public stage, the Prince is not expected to address such a controversial issue as republicanism. He will simply try to win over new supporters to the merits of the monarchy and the Commonwealth through his appearances during his three days in the country."
Mr. Windsor junior is widely seen as having photogenic qualities lacked by his father, who is still entitled to follow Elizabeth Windsor as monarch. He is also better able to charm those who are not offended by his claim to a genetic superiority that entitles him to a privileged part in the government of Britain and a substantial claim on the wealth of the British people.
Australia seems most likely to be the first of the remaining major former colony to replace hereditary right with a democratic head of state. In 1999 a referendum brought the country close to a switch to republican government. If Australia decides to drop the Windsors it will he harder for supporters of feudalism in Britain to hold back the tide.
Recent opinion polls suggest that Australians would prefer William to his father Charles as their head of state. However, polls have also shown 60 per cent of Australians to be supporters of a republic.
Former Australian Republic Movement leader Malcolm Turnball told the British Times newspaper that "The obstacle to Australia becoming a republic is not the charm of princes, but rather the requirement of a 'double majority' - not only a majority in a nation-wide referendum but in four out of six states - to change the constitution.''
The government is to encourage citizens to celebrate another 60 years in which they have been denied a basic democratic right - not to be discriminated against in the filling of public office on the grounds of family or genetic makeup .
June 5, 2011 has been declared a public holiday to mark Elizabeth Windsor’s sixtieth year as hereditary head of state.
The decision to encourage feudal deference to Windsor was announced, fittingly, by the Secretary of State for Business, Peter Mandleson. Apologists for monarchy often claim that monarchy is good for the business of the tourist industry. And Mandleson too benefits from Britain’s feudal constitution. He is an unelected legislator-for-life and "Lord".
Like Iran’s "Supreme Leader" Ms. Windsor will be head of state until she dies or renounces her feudal office.
A free speech campaign in support of radio DJ Tom Binns has demonstrated how monarchy can confuse patriotic impulses while denying citizens their democratic rights.
Mr. Binns was sacked by Radio BRMB in Birmingham after making disrespectful comments when an unintended feed of the Christmas speech by Britain’s feudal head of state interrupted his show. Windsor used the speech to express sadness about soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Hearing Windsor’s voice the DJ said "Two words - Bor-ing". He then joked about the beheading of a French monarch and introduced a song by a gay songwriter with the words "from one queen to another".
The owners of the radio station said "One of our presenters made some inappropriate comments surrounding the Queen's speech. We do not condone what he said in any way, whether said in jest or not. Tom will now not be featuring again on our radio stations." This leaves is unclear whether the sacking was because Mr. Binns expressed democratic sentiments, because it was thought that he was disrespectful towards fallen soldiers, or both.
Mr. Binn’s behaviour seems to make clear that this contempt was for Liz Windsor and her feudal family, not for the thoughts she was expressing. But the British constitution makes it difficult for those who feel passionately for democracy and the rights of the people to give expression to their patriotic impulses. That is because where there is a feudal constitution patriotism can be confused with support for, or at least acquiescence in, that evil. Then contempt for feudalism may seem to be contempt for nation.