Thanks for your gracious reply Zeuhl. The difficulty with democracy is that it is a bit like being pregnant....we are either democratic or we are not.
I am reminded of the story of how Zhou Enlai, China's first Premier, was interviewed by a Western reporter, not long after the end of the Cultural Revolution. He was asked what he thought of the French Revolution. Zhou Enlai replied that was too early to tell !
To be pragmatic though, I would allow that Liz has done a pretty good job over the last 61 years. She has seen countless PMs, Presidents, Popes, etc, etc come and go and she is still there. So we have some continuity at least. She has also built up a huge amount of experience under her belt, or perhaps sash. As I said, if we ever get to have a vote on it and she decides to stand for a 5 year term, then she has one supporter at least in me.
I would also admit that until a Monarch makes a complete balls up of the job, there will be no great movement to change to a Republic, much as I would like it to be otherwise. Perhaps my previous thoughts on Queen Fergie being the trigger point was just wishful thinking !