When Charles and Diana were married, I was asked by a magazine to do an article on the various parties that were being planned throughout the city. People were hosting "Wedding Watch" parties. I thought how crazy was that? In America that would mean the middle of the night! So off I went, fearful of being out alone. As I drove through the streets, to my shock, lights were being turned on at houses all along my route. There really were parties. I arrived at my appointed destination to discover the room was crowded around a TV set.
I knew next to nothing about the monarchy in those days, but even then I wondered, what are these people interested in? As Catherine has stated, modernization is not what brings out - in all hours of the day and night - adored fans.
Take away the horse-drawn carriages, massed bands, soldiers on horseback and no one will be watching. What is sure to follow, of course, is the monarchy. Who is going to get out of bed for an empty balcony?

In today's world, there are those who are now chipping away at the foundations of the monarchy under the guise of "keeping up with the times."

Debates are raging, fueled by elements of the press. But the British public will have the final say. They are not to be underestimated. They are not being taken in by slick PR machines. All one had to do is watch those crowds standing for hours in that funeral queue (around 250,000). In my opinion, the people have rendered their verdict. It couldn't be louder or clearer.