He accepted the title when he figured out it entitled him to a sword.
I don’t remember that Prince Charles had frequent visits from Mum and Dad when he was at Timbertop.
Nevertheless. Real republicans don’t bend the knee to monarchs. And in some ways it’s worse to do it for a bauble, not actual power. Power you could do some good with…
I’ll admit, it’s a sore point for me, the one real flaw I’m aware of in a man I pretty much idolize. The two times I met him and got a chance to chat, I’ll always consider highlights of my life. It would be like finding out he was secretly religious.
“Verence,” surely?
Terrence was the king who had Queen Ynci’s suit of armor made. 
It was as if even the most intelligent person had this little blank spot in their heads where someone had written: “Kings. What a good idea.” Whoever had created humanity had left in a major design flaw. It was its tendency to bend at the knees.”
Maybe Pratchett was including himself in that.
Sure, quite probably. The man was very self-aware.
Makes me think about the bit where Vimes is about to turn down the Dukedom until Vetinari reminds him that Sybil would be quite chuffed to be a Duchess. Without checking the dates, it seems that “but my family would be pleased” is a fairly plausible rationalisation.