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The question is posed this week by columnist Aileen Eager, ‘is a creaking monarchy good for Britain?’

Flicking through TV channels I recently discovered Andre Rieu or, more importantly, the music of Andre Rieu.

Described variously as Dutch violinist, conductor and showman, Andre fronts the Johann Strauss orchestra with whom over the past 25 years, he has travelled the world (he comes to Dublin next year) - and you can catch him on Sky Arts 2 most evenings. This could get in the way of your soap addiction so watch it.

Married, we are told, to his childhood sweetheart, Andre has a smile and the kind of gleam in his eye that could make for unease even in a childhood sweetheart.

The man has star quality. At 63, impeccably turned out in evening dress his fans in packed auditoriums adore him. And why not? Long blonde wavy hair, tall, straight, lean, in a body that has never known excess, his concerts have been described as a spiritual experience.

He has a kind of love affair with his listeners and they with him, conga lines clapping, dancing, singing. And yes, I have watched fascinated as waving fans sway and sing their hearts out, tears streaming down their faces, arms reaching out to Andre as he takes them through Amazing Grace. Wonderful.

The other night Sky Arts 2 screened a repeat of a special Rieu concert to commemorate the abdication earlier this year of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and to celebrate the take-over by her son King Willem-Alexander who, at 46, is now the youngest monarch in Europe. The Dutch people are hugely patriotic and the concert was a joyous occasion in a sea of orange, orange crowns, sashes, flags.

The thing about all this is that Queen Beatrix is 75. In July this year King Albert of Belgium (79) abdicated and handed over to his son, King Philippe (53). In Britain where abdication still has historic connotations, all this royal restlessness across Europe must provide food for thought in royal circles.

If the royal houses of both The Netherlands and Belgium celebrated with banquets, you’d wonder who represented the British royal family - if they were invited. Maybe the royals don’t do that sort of thing. HRH The Prince of Wales and Camilla as senior members of the House of Windsor would be the obvious choice representing Elizabeth II, who still reigns at 87, supported by her 92 year old consort.

At 65 and 66 respectively in all the circumstances would Charles and Camilla be comfortable celebrating the ‘promotion’ of a 46 and 53 year old, while they still wait in the wings? Caring man that he is, it must be strange at 65 to have to reinvent yourself with each passing year while you still have not got to grips with your real purpose in life; this at a time regarded as retirement age in the real world.

With two royal abdications across Europe in the space of six months you can’t help but wonder about the British monarchy.

I have in the past had it suggested that I am at the very least anti-British monarchy (there was more but we won’t go into that).

On the contrary, as a child I loved all those fairytales about kings and queens and princesses who lived in castles and palaces. Then I grew up and discovered it was all real, well, in the island neighbouring ours. They had it all, gowns and tiaras, horses and carriages, the works.

Elizabeth II is a woman I admire. She has been good for her country and is possibly more popular with her people now than she was early in her reign. In those early days I remember a British tabloid heading: ‘Do We Really Need A Queen?’ You have only to look at the turnout for royal family events, watch the football terraces, and hear the fans sing the anthem for the answer.

But with the best will in the world you have to wonder has Elizabeth II lost her way. Was there a turning point she missed, a road not taken?

In years of reading up on the royals, I have read that the Queen, because she was anointed with holy oils as part of her coronation ceremony, regards her coronation as a sacrament - not something from which she can choose to retire. Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and King Albert of Belgium had no such reservations.

Which begs the question, is a creaking monarchy good for Britain?

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