Personally I see the decision to drop the Hohenzollern title just as a logic consequence of the 2007 proposal to change the succession rules and - perhaps - also of the lack of interest shown by the Princes of Hohenzollern in the Romanian succession.
I think that is exactly how it should be viewed, and unless someone has strong, personal feelings in one direction or another, this is how it's seen from the outside. The monarchs of most reigning European houses have dropped titles that are no longer relevant for the monarchy, or confusing to the people they are placed to serve, so it's more a process of simplification and with eyes to the future, instead of the glass dome spoken of, which would only work in practice if one wanted to see the monarchy as a museum, and not a living organization.
In the end, some supporters will agree and some will disagree with changes a sovereign proposes, whether it be in a reigning or a defunct royal house, but it is still the task of the head of such a dynasty to make decisions when necessary, to bring the family along with the times we live in, remaining as true as possible to the principles of monarchy and not upsetting too many through the process.
That is why I cannot find fault with any of the decisions of the King, except the one concerning Nicholas, and that one mostly because it was poorly explained.
- the King severs the ties to the Hohenzollern family, not using a subsidiary title anymore. That is logical, following the bruising process of Prince Radus title, the statement from Prince Karl about Romanian succession being a Romanian issue he had no interest in and so on. It is well within monarchical tradition to declare a Royal House exclusively for, of and from the land it serves or wants to serve.
-the King proposes a new line if succession, abolishing salic law. With the King having 5 children, all female, it is no surprise that he proposes this change, to ensure that the Royal Family can continue as pretenders to the throne after his own demise someday. Japan, one of the most traditional monarchies in the world, prepared legislation to enable females to rule, until a prince was finally born a few years ago and put a pin in that process. All other European monarchies allow female succession in one form or another, and if Romania had been a monarchy continuously, the law would had been changed when the King and Queen had no more children, and it was clear that the next generation in the Royal Family were all girls.
The King has never demanded this document be followed. It is his proposal to politicians, and with their continued inclusion of the Custodian in their meetings, discussions and arrangements, it is clear that as far as a republic can, they see her as her fathers representative and heir.
- the Crown Princess, being named Custodian of the Crown by her father, has been working with the government to find a suitable arrangement for the Royal Family in the present-day circumstances, where a restoration is not on the immediate agenda. This arrangement will be given as a law, to establish salaries, housing and resources made available to the Royal Family by the state. Some 'supporters' of the cause of monarchy, claim that this is giving in to the republic, and that no negotiations should take place and no concessions made to the republic, but that the Royal Family should instead demand the restoration of the monarchy immediately. The Crown Princess is fully aware that if she were to listen to this proposal, the monarchy would fail as a cause, not only from a lack of popular support, but equally from a lack of political support, and opposition from the governing class.
If you want to affect change in a democracy without a revolution, you have to either have overwhelming public support, or have the political class behind you.
The monarchy as of today, has neither.
What they do have, is more and more politicians working with them, not seeing them as a threat anymore and being more sympathetic to the cause of monarchy. That is seemingly the best way forward now, and having a formal arrangement gives the Royal Family a platform from which to further the cause of monarchy in Romania. To sabotage that, would be to lose a golden opportunity for actual change, instead of theorizing in closed rooms and at small gatherings of those who already agree.
The monarchy in Romania will never return exactly as it was in 1947.
There is no glass dome over the Russian, Italian, French or Portuguese monarchies either. If any are to be restored, that will happen on a basis of who is best suited to serve as head of state and regal representatives. Who has been active in the country, built relationships with people of power and the population. Who has respect, not only from a title most people don't relate to, but from the body of work they do and have done, from the role(s) they have fulfilled. You need to have a little of both; a title or family history that ties you elegantly into the history of the land and a current-day body of work, attitude and visibility that makes people want to elevate you.
In no democracy today will that happen again based solely on titles or family bonds.
Severing the ties with the Hohenzollerns was a logical step in the Romanian process of monarchy, and the Hohenzollern princes have gone merry on their way with their lives, not shedding tears over a lost throne in Romania they at no point have shown any interest in being offered once again.
