Dawkins probably not the best example seeing as he is very much a white, old man. (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/07/05/richard-dawkins-and-male-privilege/#.UN2gGqX7WTc).
There are plenty of ridiculous and pretentious things about every country - the protocol around the monarch is a bit out-dated, but it'll be liberalised when William takes the throne. The monarchy will probably head down the Scandinavian/Dutch model in the next while.