As a baby, Princess Elizabeth cried as the water was poured over her head on her christening day. It was, said commentators, "the last time she ever made a scene in public".

When she became Queen, her supposed motto - "never complain, never explain" - was quoted time and time again as a symbol of the English "keep calm and carry on" mentality. 

Queen Elizabeth II was always a widely popular and admired figure in the mainstream media. For many, she simply embodied Britishness. 

As such, it is no surprise that her death has been accompanied by an unspoken "what now?". Elizabeth has been labelled a "political genius" and a symbol of solidity, but her successor, King Charles, has a less stable reputation.

Some top thinkers believe that the existence of a monarch who embodied patrioticShowing love and pride for your country. pride could deter populismA type of politics that claims to represent the common people in the fight against a powerful and "elite" establishment. and autocracyA society ruled by a single person or group with absolute power. in politics, as people would not try to project the same undying loyalty onto a political figure as they do to a monarch. Some now believe that, in Elizabeth's absence, a new type of figurehead could arise. 

In some ways, the British monarchy remains strong. Elizabeth had record high approval ratings and the monarchy still plays a larger role than in many European countries. 

Yet in other ways, the monarchy under the Queen appeared to be weakening. Last year, Barbados became the world's newest republic, shaking off the Queen as its head of state. Many other CommonwealthOfficially called the Commonwealth of Nations, it was set up in 1926. There are 54 members in all. It grew out of the British Empire and many members, although not all, were former British colonies. countries are considering following the same path. 

The cost of the monarchy will also become clearer with the Queen's death. The UK is experiencing a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis and a shift towards recession. Coronations and funerals alike are a costly ordeal which may bring inequalities in the country into the spotlight.

Is it time to do away with the monarchy, or will abolition increase political instabilities?

Yes: This is a convenient time to peacefully split from the monarchy and invest its assets in resolving the economic crisis and inequalities.

No:  Now more than ever, in this time of crisis, in Britain and beyond we need strong and familiar figureheads to guide our sense of national self.

Or... We should reserve our judgements until later in King Charles III's period of rule. For now, stability is key.