Quote by Christopher Hitchens
This is what you get when you found a political system on the family values of Henry VIII. At a point in the not-too-remote future, the stout heart of Queen Elizabeth II will cease to beat. At that precise moment, her firstborn son will become head of state, head of the armed forces, and head of the Church of England. In strict constitutional terms, this ought not to matter much. The English monarchy, as has been said, reigns but does not rule. From the aesthetic point of view it will matter a bit, because the prospect of a morose bat-eared and chinless man, prematurely aged, and with the most abysmal taste in royal consorts, is a distinctly lowering one.
Summary
This quote highlights the potential issues of having a political system that is based on the family values and lineage of a historical figure like Henry VIII. It suggests that in the near future, when Queen Elizabeth II passes away, her oldest son will inherit the role of head of state, armed forces, and the Church of England. While this may not necessarily have significant constitutional implications, the quote emphasizes the aesthetic concerns. It describes the next in line as a gloomy-looking, older man with unappealing physical features and famously poor choices in romantic partners, which adds a note of pessimism to the prospect of his ascension to power.
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