On Saturday 17 of august, the editor of the Today, and no doubt many with him, wrote that he did not know to what end we still have Royalty, who came to visit in the persons of His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima. Royalty, many people think, is such an ancient thing, or subject, that it is hardly proper to fit in this day and time. Still, huge crowds of people flock to see the Royal couple, and every commoner in his/her heart feels something special. As nobody seems to know why they still like the idea of royalty, I will tell you.

In republics like France and Turkey, where Royalty and with them most artistrocrats where murdered, because of    misconduct, presidents have been put at the head of the country. Now, in those countries, any person can become  president. No matter if you where born a pauper, a shoemaker or a farmer, anyone  can become president if fate would have it so. That idea lives in the mentality of the population. I am not aware in which station the fast coming and going presidents of the many countries that have done away with monarchies where born, but I remember that  Krutsjev, long ago president of the Soviet Republics, was born a common farmer. However, nobody can become King. King is the very  position one has to be born into. One cannot become King, one has to be born son of a Queen, a true Prince in order to become King. See how Prince Bernard and Prince Claus, although married to Queens never became Kings. It is this impossibility that makes it a mystery that is so attractive to most people. And repugnant to some. Those that do not like Royalty may be jealous, those that envy the uniqueness, the one-of-a-kindness of Royalty. I rather be a subject of a (modern) King, than of a president, who always gets a limited time, [unless he is a dictator], like in Peru, America, the Dominican Republic or in France. A king is still somewhat a fairy tale person, an impossibility for the commoner.
I especially like the fairy tales with pompous weddings, great processions, benevolent actions and happy endings.

As long as I don't have to partake in them.