> I don't think this amount of pompous touristy bullshit surrounds any other modern monarch.
Ahem.
Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (Norway): https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=29281
Den Kongelige Livgarde (Denmark): https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/palaces-and-the-royal-yacht/cha...
Livgardet (Sweden): https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/activities/events/the-royal...
Guardia Real (Spain): https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/changing-guard-royal-pa...
What is the purpose of an army? To defend their nation. What is the essence of a monarchic nation? ... Armies in monarchies tend to have these type of honour guards and traditions, even if their typical audience is tourists. Armies in republics also love a bit of pomp and circumstance and will gladly show off their troops marching, their aerial acrobatics, their latest hardware, etc.
Also mostly stupid and hilariously anachronistic, in my opinion. The videos of Indian and Pakistani border guards showing off to each other comes particularly to mind.
France does. But then it is often said we elect a monarch, not a president.
But to your other point, yep, the French Fifth Republic has a very strong President figure (not a monarch on a few important distinctions like succession, but still). And after the failures of the Third and Fourth Republics that showed that compromise is complicated to achieve and without a strong position somewhere there is just pure chaos and instability, it was the only way forward.
People pay attention to the King because he's part of their history, not just the UK's.
*Not just "English"
1. English language and media being more widespread than e.g. Danish
2. The commonwealth - the English monarch is also the (figure)head of the commonwealth which is another ten or so countries spread across the globe.
There are other reasons too - perhaps tourism plays a big part. If you visit London then you'll almost certainly go to Buckingham palace to see the stupid palace guards and all that pomp. Millions of people do it every year and are told the Queen/King is living right there. Especially if you're a child that puts them into an important position in your imagination.
I don't think this amount of pompous touristy bullshit surrounds any other modern monarch.
And finally, a large swath of English people either love or hate the monarch, while a large swarth of Irish also hate them, both of which fuel attention. Most other European monarchs are just sort of... there, to my understanding.