I'm not sure how true that ever was, and I think that Charles might be a bit more popular and respected than he used to be too.

Sort of, but not quite. The UK's constitutional monarchy is quite a thing: certainly not a democracy, but not able to function outside the confines of keeping the people happy. No political power; yet gives the seal of approval that validates all governments.

Go through history and you'll see your statement isn't so clear cut. Charles I pissed off the people and lost his head.

James II's conversion to Catholicism was unpopular and when he had a catholic heir it led to him being run out of the country and his throne given over to the Dutch William of Orange and his wife Mary.

Edward VIII's abdication was purely a result of the belief that the British people would never accept Wallis Simpson as the spouse of the sovereign.

It is not just a case of like it or lump it. 

Although as an adult I'm completely opposed to the concept of monarchy (the French had the right idea on this topic IMHO), those symbols still hold some power over me. Much like my Catholic upbringing.

I've always found Philip to be quite the character, I remember often choosing him when we had an essay assignment on some member of the Royal Family.

A man from the old world, with the good and the bad that entails. He had a very hard childhood, royal and all. 

The man fought the Nazis directly, he witnessed the Japanese surrender among many other things. Yet I've seen a lot of wisecracks on social media describing him as a Nazi himself. Really unfair and disrespectful, besides the fact that he did made more than a few inappropriate statements in his lifetime.

Another piece of the old world that fades away.

RIP

Rodrigo, do you mean replace a king with an emperor? :)


About Prince Philip, the man had quite a life and is an interesting character in a fictional TV show.

I realized when I saw he was born in 1921 that both my grand fathers would have turned 100 this year...

Heh.

Most revolutions just end up with the current ruling class replaced with a different one after all.

Bonaparte, with all his numerous faults, was a "self-made man" of his time.

And at least the plebes got quality entertainment watching the blue bloods' beheadings and the end result is that there is no French Royal Family as of this time :)

(Only half joking, as always)

Also he is an old empire man, so there was always a big dose of non-PC about him... but don't forget he was actually quite progressive originally - it's just the world moved faster than him.

Not entirely true, French history had a monarchy come back from 1814 to 1848 called "La Restauration". Then 4 years of Republic then Empire again till 1870. Then there was a complcated time of hesitation between Monarchy and Republic which prevailed by chance.

Today we have a spanish heir of the crown who should be Louis XX who still appears from time to time. Quite good looking guy with this funny line: "I don't aspire to anything, I am".

And it should stay that way.