For the 13th time in 334 years, the crown has passed peacefully from one head of state to the next. Elizabeth II was Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Few remember a time before her.

In 1940, during World War Two, 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth first spoke to the nation.¹ "In the end," she said, "all will be well." She never went to school or sat an exam, but in 1952, she became queen.

Today, the world's population has trebled.² The Internet has replaced the radio. Men have walked on the moon. So, 70 years later, does Britain still need the royal family? Some experts think it does.

1. It protects democracy. In 1688, the last king to rule without parliament fled England. James II lost the crown to his daughter Mary II and William III.³ They granted citizens freedom of speech and the right to elect leaders.

You do not choose the throne. "You sit on it by accident of birth, not by personal merit," says journalist Charles Moore.⁴ Wearing the crown is a heavy burden⁵, not a position of power. Replace it with elected presidents, experts warn, and you will end up with a British Trump.

2. It preserves history. In 1944, Anne FrankA Jewish girl who kept a diary during World War Two while hiding from the Nazis. ⁶ pinned up a photo of Elizabeth on her wall, hiding from the Nazis. The princess was a symbol of hope. Writer Helen Lewis says she was "a personal link to Britain's proudest moment", when the country defeated Hitler.⁷

A monarch's long reign gives them wisdom. The queen remembered the BlitzA German bombing campaign against the UK between 1940 and 1941, during World War Two. , giving special meaning to her words during the pandemic: "We will meet again."⁸

3. It provides stability. Lewis says the queen was like "the North StarA bright star that can be seen almost exactly above the North Pole. in the night sky". Timeless in an age of change, her head on every coin and stamp.

The royal expert Dermot Morrah wrote: "England would not be itself without her."⁹ Monarchs serve for life. Their promises are like marriage vows. Elizabeth I famously said: "I am married to England."¹⁰

4. It sets an example. In her 90s, the queen carried out almost 300 engagements a year. She worked into her last week, meeting Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. At her husband's funeral, she sat alone - following social distancing rules.

For many, this self-sacrifice sets the highest standard for behaviour in public life.

And yet, Charles III will be coronated in an ancient ritual with holy oil and knights of chivalry.¹¹ 

Yes: With their fights and bad behaviour, the royals do not provide stability or leadership. It is absurd that someone can become the head of state without qualifications or an election.

No: The queen used television and new technology to change the royal family. She ended out-of-date traditions but kept the mystery and magic.

Or... Is the past a bad thing? Love and friendship are ancient ideas that hold society together. Monarchy survives because people find strength in rituals and symbols.

Anne Frank - A Jewish girl who kept a diary during World War Two while hiding from the Nazis.

Blitz - A German bombing campaign against the UK between 1940 and 1941, during World War Two.

North Star - A bright star that can be seen almost exactly above the North Pole.