It's wrong in principle and it doesn't work in practice. (And no, it's not good for tourism.) But it doesn't have to be this way.

They say Britain should be proud to have the mother of parliaments, a shining beacon of democracy and an example to other nations. But there's an elephant in the room.

At the heart of power is a single family. They weren't elected but they live off the public purse. They aren't accountable to anyone, and yet between them they are privy to more government secrets than many cabinet ministers. Divinely appointed using a special hat, the head of the family is your superior, you his subject. Apparently he is guardian of our constitution - but we're also told he wouldn't dream of interfering in politics.

If you accept the monarchy, you must accept the moral compromise that comes with it, from its erosion of the principle of equality to the secret interference in our laws. But the good news is that we don't have to accept it. True democracy is within our reach.