Elizabeth II was Britain's longest-reigning monarchKing or queen.. The world changed dramatically during her life.

When she was 14 years old, she spoke to the nation: "In the end," she said, "all will be well."¹ It was 1940 and the world was at war. Elizabeth never went to school. But in 1952, she became queen.

Today, the world's population has trebled.² We have the Internet and men have walked on the moon. So does modern Britain still need the royal family? Some experts think it does.

1. Democracy. In 1688, the last king to rule without parliament fled England. William III and Mary II promised people freedom of speech and the right to elect leaders.³

You do not choose the throne. "You sit on it by accident of birth," says journalist Charles Moore.⁴ The crown is a heavy responsibility.⁵ You will end up with a British Trump if you replace the monarch with elected presents, experts warn.

2. History. In 1944, Anne FrankA Jewish girl who kept a diary during World War Two while hiding from the Nazis. ⁶ put a photo of Elizabeth on her wall. 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

Her long reign made her wise. She 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. Stability. Lewis says the queen was like a fixed star in our 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 A monarch is married to their country and promises to serve and protect.

4. Values. The queen set an example, worked hard and obeyedFollowed the rules or instructions. the law. At her husband's funeral, she sat alone - following social distancing rules. Her actions set high standards for behaviour in public life.

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 She ended out-of-date traditions but kept the mystery and magic.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.