Ceremonial Monarchs Wield Cultural Soft Power

The essay contends modern Western monarchs are not mere figureheads: like Alfred the Great, they can commission translations, sponsor curricula, shape legal symbolism, and revive shared rituals to rebuild national identity. Soft power exercised through patronage and narrative-setting can buttress social cohesion alongside formal government. — This reframes constitutional monarchy as a live governance tool for cultural cohesion, suggesting heads of state can actively influence national identity without formal policymaking.