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> the stupid palace guards and all that pomp > I don't think this amount of pompous touristy bullshit surrounds any other modern monarch. Ahem. Hans Majestet

> the stupid palace guards and all that pomp > I don't think this amount of pompous touristy bullshit surrounds any other modern monarch. Ahem. Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (Norway): https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=29281 https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=29281 Den Kongelige Livgarde (Denmark): https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/palaces-and-the-royal-yacht/changing-of-the-guard/ https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/palaces-and-the-royal-yacht/cha... Livgardet (Sweden): https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/activities/events/the-royal-guards/changing-of-the-guard/ https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/activities/events/the-royal... Guardia Real (Spain): https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/changing-guard-royal-palace https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/changing-guard-royal-pa... What is the purpose of an army? To defend their nation. What is the essence of a monarchic nation? ... Armies in monarchies tend to have these type of honour guards and traditions, even if their typical audience is tourists. Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance and will gladly show off their troops marching, their aerial acrobatics, their latest hardware, etc.

esperent 4y ago
> Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance Also mostly stupid and hilariously anachronistic, in my opinion. The videos of Indian and Pakistani border guards showing off to each other comes particularly to mind.
- macintux 4y ago
  I’d rather they show off to each other than shoot at each other. Anything that reinforces their fundamental similarities has to count as a good thing.
ElFitz 4y ago
> Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance and will gladly show off their troops France does. But then it is often said we elect a monarch, not a president.
- sofixa 4y ago
  Lots of countries do this, not only France. Military parades are an easy way to remember and commemorate the fallen in battles, and to remind the civilian population of the magnificent army protecting them. But to your other point, yep, the French Fifth Republic has a very strong President figure (not a monarch on a few important distinctions like succession, but still). And after the failures of the Third and Fourth Republics that showed that compromise is complicated to achieve and without a strong position somewhere there is just pure chaos and instability, it was the only way forward.

esperent 4y ago

> Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance Also mostly stupid and hilariously anachronistic, in my opinion. The videos of Indian and Pakistani border guards showing off to each other comes particularly to mind.

macintux 4y ago
I’d rather they show off to each other than shoot at each other. Anything that reinforces their fundamental similarities has to count as a good thing.

ElFitz 4y ago

> Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance and will gladly show off their troops France does. But then it is often said we elect a monarch, not a president.

sofixa 4y ago
Lots of countries do this, not only France. Military parades are an easy way to remember and commemorate the fallen in battles, and to remind the civilian population of the magnificent army protecting them. But to your other point, yep, the French Fifth Republic has a very strong President figure (not a monarch on a few important distinctions like succession, but still). And after the failures of the Third and Fourth Republics that showed that compromise is complicated to achieve and without a strong position somewhere there is just pure chaos and instability, it was the only way forward.