@typolad As I remember, it's from the point of view of police chief Sam Vimes. Vimes often channels Pratchett's own views, but sometimes I think in a more cynical and less nuanced form. Vimes is a descendant of the Discworld's equivalent of Oliver Cromwell, and tends to favour the quick and terminal approach to monarchs. To be fair, the monarchs of the Discworld, with some exceptions, tend to take a similarly traditional view with regard to republicans like Vimes.

Pratchett's comment on his knighthood was "You can't ask a fantasy writer not to want a knighthood. You know, for two pins I'd get myself a horse and a sword." Which is fair enough - after all even Sam Vimes ends up a knight and a Duke.