For everyone who supports the idea of retaining the monarchy in Australia’s Constitution, there is one very important question that should be occupying their minds, even as they grieve the death of Queen Elizabeth II:

How can the monarch’s place in the Australia’s democratic institutions be defended against the presidential alternative?

First, the mistake should not be made of believing that the Australian people’s affection for Her Majesty, as reflected in the sky-high television ratings of her funeral, serve as evidence that their loyalty will be everlasting.

Those emotions will pale with time.