Nice thoughts on being a pretender, by M Bernard Lhôte. The last two alineas:
[...]
An ordinary citizen in the Republic, but not completely because in the eye he holds the air of nothing - and an extra-ordinary individual in the imagination of his fellow citizens, be they hostile or sympathizers. The pretender suffers and enjoys this ambivalence. Because, currently, the function does not have only disadvantages. The secondary benefits, psychological and social, are not slim. Being surrounded by sincere loyalties and constant animosities, receiving many signs of positive and negative acknowledgments: that is royal! This condition closes doors for him, but he opens others, and probably more. He is able, if he likes it, thanks to his relations and the most unexpected connivance from people in principle opposed, to visit and know his country from top to bottom: its companies, its laboratories, its associations, its institutions, its schools, its academies, its armies ...
As for the view towards Europe and the open sea, they are, for a
capétien, at hand. In all the countries where France, by its history, has marked the destiny of a people, or an elite, or a minority, the pretender feels mysterious and disturbing acquaintances, which are most often perfectly perceived by the interlocutors he meets there. Finally, the identification with a lineage and a nation rich in dramas, achievements, glories, painful or consoling memories, if it can be overwhelming, it is also perfectly exalting, transcendent. Although promoted by historical assets, its function is fully up to date. It addresses a merry footfall to its sufficiency modernity. "You have to live with your time", said the parrot. "We are with time", said the Prince.
La prétendance au trône de France - Le blog de La Couronne
