European monarchies have excellent records of democracy and preserving freedom.
But the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg and the Scandinavian countries are successful monarchies. Spain is a stable democracy in no small measure because of the unifying effect of its popular king, Juan Carlos. He dismantled the engines of Gen. Francisco Franco's dictatorship and handed power to civilian rulers. He stood up against an attempt by the military to restore fascist rule. When the military held parliament hostage, it was the king who commanded the soldiers to lay down their arms.