What does the king is dead long live the king mean?

Answer 1

i am real curious about if this answer goes Anywhere except cyberspace, nonetheless:

While we understand ''the king is dead'' part, the ''long live the king'' part is sorta intellectually puzzling -- sorta like ''why did people once put all those big 'head statues' on Easter Island?'' -- except in the case of the 'king statement', while it puzzles Many (as it did me for a long time), it seems that this Particular 'puzzlement' seems too 'minor', perhaps, to actually vocalize (there are Other possibilities) and is usually kept to one's self it seems. While i have at times Wondered about the statement myself, i think I've never heard it asked by anyone Else, for example.

[the subject re 'widely held questions that go unasked and the reasons for this' is one that people might find interest-ing] ... but for Now:

the ''long live the king'' part is for the NEW king, in my view. (there was usually, or supposed to be, a new one ready to step in at the appropriate moment).

Oh yeah, an Megadeth rules!!