I am guessing that this is irony or sarcasm. The pageantry of the British and other monarchies is part of the deal, and always has been. And in a democratic monarchy in particular, giving the "people" what they want is essential. Republican sentiment grew when Queen Victoria was perceived as hiding herself away in her widowhood. It dissipated when the then-Prince of Wales had a close brush with death from typhoid, but also when the Queen and her family took part in the elaborate celebrations of the Queen's two Jubilees. The British RF seems to have taken the lessons of the 19th century to heart. The continental royal families, for all the talk of "bicycling monarchies," bring out the pomp and jewels as well. There is a fine line to walk for these monarchies if they want to survive, and a good dose of old time ceremony and glitter is part of the formula.