I would prefer the money spent on the monarchy went to charity, but I also have a suspicion that if we abolished the monarchy and gave all the money to charity, the benefits would be very short-lived and gone within a year. Does that matter? Perhaps not, but unless the money generates an income - that would be better - I just suspect it would disappear with little in the way of lasting benefit.

Maybe I'm too sceptical.

As for people who die without heirs or a will - I think their wealth should go to pay off the national debt, not to the king.