Editorial: Are the royals still relevant?

New Zealand's had a soft spot for William ever since he sat on the lawn at Government House with a Buzzy Bee toy. Photo / NZME.

It's fascinating at a time we've been so focused on the notion of national identity that - as we mark 100 years since the slaughter of Gallipoli - one, we're debating the future of our country's flag, and two, many of us seem obsessed with the Royal Family.

There's every chance that by the time this editorial reaches your breakfast table you will have already raised a celebratory spoonful of cornflakes at news the Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to the fourth in line to the throne.

If not it could be any day now, and it's bound to dominate headlines here and around the world - though perhaps not as much as the birth of big brother George.

Of course New Zealand's had a soft spot for William ever since he sat on the lawn at Government House with a Buzzy Bee toy.

His brother Prince Harry is heading to New Zealand soon too and is sure to be as popular here as he has been in Australia.

But are the royals relevant to a modern New Zealand?

Our head of state is not a New Zealander.

As the group New Zealand Republic says, when the Queen travels overseas, she does so in order to represent Great Britain.

She works to strengthen British economic and political ties, and whenever she visits New Zealand, she has to ask for permission from the British Government to leave Britain, even though she's our head of state.

If she wanted to be a citizen of New Zealand, she would not even meet the legal requirements to become a citizen, the group says.

I think many would agree it's a bit strange holding on to those old colonial ties.

But perhaps we need to get through this flag debate first before going the whole hog and ditching the monarchy, or talking about it at least.

In the meantime, as I've pointed out before, the young royals are rock stars to many.

Maybe you don't agree with the reason for their fame, but like any other celebrity you can't deny their star power.

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