I generally approve of monarchies - if they are virtually powerless. Our Royal Family is terrific and the Queen and Philip extraordinary.

Only the King of Thailand - Rama IX - has reigned longer than the Queen; he is almost the exact same age.

Still quite active, though with some health problems, he is deemed - with our Queen - to be the richest sovereign in the world. c$35b.

Also married to the same wife/consort since his coronation in 1950 - he is the oldest living recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain; Prince Philip is one of the 13 others who are living.

Like our Queen, he has no plans to retire - although, again, there is a son, ready and willing to take over.

It was the last Belgium King who find himself in sole command of the country when the entire government resigned in recent years. Some nationals said he should have carried on and abolished parliament (a bit like Cromwell did).

JK keeps saying that democracy doesn't work.