The advantages British constitutional monarchy

The constitutional monarchy puts Britain’s kings and queens in a strange position – they seem to have lots of influence, and they certainly have a lot of privileges, but they don’t have very much real power. To the citizens of many of the world’s republics, where you can vote for the head of state you want and kick them out if they don’t do their job properly, the British system seems archaic and unfair.
So what’s so special about the constitutional monarchy? It does have a few advantages:

• Continuity: Elected governments come and go, but the king or queen remains. This continuity makes for a more stable regime.
  
• Political neutrality: There are benefits from keeping the head of state out of party politics – the crown is above the temporary squabbles of the political parties.
• Experience: A monarch who’s reigned for more than a few years can have a valuable perspective and deeper knowledge of affairs than a politician who’s only been in power for months.
  
• Overview: Both the continuity of the monarchy, and its involvement in the world outside Britain, gives it a valuable overview that is often lacking with other kinds of government.

Of course, there are drawbacks, too. Any monarchy relies on the accidents of birth, and while some kings and queens have excelled at their role, just as many would never have made it in a democratic system. And there’s the ultimate drawback – however good or bad a hereditary ruler, you’re stuck with him. Other than a revolution, you have no way of deposing a hereditary monarch.