Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever. ~ Queen Elizabeth II
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has opened the door for questions about the viability of the Monarchy in the modern era. The future of an institution seen as a constant in Britain’s life is now fraught with uncertainty. The necessity of the British Monarchy has been cast in doubt. As these questions continue to be discussed, I thought I would share my perspective on the importance of the role that the Monarchy plays in the lives of the British people. The Monarchy’s significance lies not in its power to rule over its people, but in its symbolic power as an ideal for which to strive.
The Monarchy is an enduring symbol of Britain’s culture. It serves to remind the British people of their most deeply held values: sacrifice, duty, responsibility, and self-transcendence. The Monarch, as the living embodiment of these values, functions as a model of expected behaviour. This behaviour constitutes an ideal way of being towards which to aim one’s efforts.
The Monarchy is an important source of meaning and purpose for the British people. It offers a vision of Britain that can never quite be achieved, but that the British people find purpose in devoting their lives to fulfilling. It encourages the British people to transcend their self-interest in order to pursue the greater good that lies in helping our fellow man, and thus imbue their lives with meaning.
The Monarchy is a uniting force, fostering a sense of community through shared purpose and values. It marries the sacred to the ordinary, inspiring a sense of awe in us. We feel a sense of connectedness and self-diminishment in its presence, which stirs us to be more generous and helpful, and to soften our attitudes towards others. In this way, the Monarchy is a force for peace rather than conflict, for unity rather than division.
Meaning, purpose, belonging - together, they make up our fundamental human need for relatedness. As a vehicle for their achievement, The Monarchy supports our psychological well-being. When we are psychologically well, we can help others be well. And is not the function of the Monarchy, and indeed of society, to facilitate our ability to carry out our responsibilities to others?
The Monarchy will endure because it must endure. That is its responsibility to its people. Though individuals may die, symbols will live on in their stead.