Queen Elizabeth II 

Here is a portrait of the late Queen Elisabeth II.

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"Elizabeth II has always been a fascinating figure for me. Her postures have often been misinterpreted. Many blamed her for being cold, distant, affected. Not everyone understood that she was driven by a deep sense of duty and dignity. And that dignity has nothing to do with disdain. Elizabeth never despised anyone nor anything, except perhaps vulgarity."

 

Asked if he believed himself to be a royalist, he answered unambiguously:

"If I had to choose between a republic and a constitutional monarchy, I would go for the latter. Why? Because, if anything else, a sovereign is endowed with manners. And manners matter! We have entered an age of boorish leaders who thrive on insults and populist speeches."

"Unlike elected representatives, Queen Elisabeth wouldn't compromise her soul. She wouldn't go with the flow and say what the people wanted to hear if she deemed it wrong. It takes courage to oppose an angry, ill-informed crowd. It takes integrity, which is a rare commodity in today's politics."

"Because he stands outside the electoral sphere, a sovereign doesn't need to tailor his morality. That's why, yes, I would rather go for a constitutional monarchy, provided the monarch in question knows how to behave and set an example. If he doesn't, there is no point in it."