How would you say democracy has been performing lately in the English speaking world? Yes, the royal family is wealthy by birth but it's a tiny fraction of national wealth and the country gets something in return e.g. stability, some shared identity, soft power, tourism. I think British people mainly want to avoid another grubby scramble for political power by the unfit who then proceed to try and push ideology and fill their own pockets.

I'll take the royals, who have been raised to have sense of duty and know they need to project the impression of service, over president Blair/Boris any day.