Robin Orton's view that "I think heads of state do need to have a degree of 'societal superiority' in that they need to command respect and to be in a position to give a moral lead in times of national crisis" is unsustainable..

HM, Queen Elizabeth aside, "societal superiority" has no part to play in a modern democracy. Her dignity is immeasurable and of an old school, almost magical in character, that contributed hugely to our survival as a British nation.

However in a different generation presented with an all seeing media eye and where elected leaders demand that people be measured by productive hard work for the least possible cost, it is difficult to see a case for her successors to justifiably inherit that stratospheric level of respect. Their ability to somehow acquire any grounding that could provide moral leadership that is superior to those they might seek to rule may prove illusory.

The measure of democratically elected leaders' merits and their ability to command respect should lie in their statesmanship and promotion of adherence to democratic, cultural and constitutional principles.

Gaining an elected mandate helps too.