Also enjoyable, but less efficient... an underwood 3 bank and a Remington Portable 3. The Underwood 3 bank especially is surprisingly nice, once you get used to the double shift.

Please, people, don't be too dogmatic in comparing typewriters. Remember that they all have 50 to 100 or so years of completely unknown use, maintenance, and storage no to mention the restoration and shipping they might have recently been subjected to before you got it. It's quite possible for two examples of the same model and year to vary more than two examples of different brands. We often read comments by some who have more than one of a particular model and vastly prefer one of them to the other(s).

The point is that without many more samples than any of us can get access to, we can't categorically state the "this model" is very good and "that model" is mediocre. (Well, there are some reliable differences you can expect between older ones and, say, post-mid-1960s.)

For example, Asher Black, if you want to type 8 hours a day, you really should be getting familiar with office models. The consensus is that they are much better for typing a lot, for reasons that we can go into. But try some of the office typewriters. Royals are pretty common and respected, as are Underwoods, Olympias, Hermes, Remingtons, and others. And Selectrics, if you don't mind electric ones.

BTW, what do you mean by chiclet keys on a typewriter? Just the shape?

Royals,  like Ford cars, have made some of the very best but also some of the very worst.  Among the best uprights:  From about 1906 to about 1962, all of them are superior.  After that, they drop off, just a tiny bit, but I like the older ones better;  The best electrics:  from about 1955 to about 1963.  After that, again, they drop off just a tiny bit;  Portables:  Same story, but starting in 1926 to about I guess about 1960.  After that, they drop off a tiny bit.  The portables are a little slow, but they have a nice touch, and the ones I've used were quite reliable.  If you keep maintenance on any typewriter--even a Remington electric (and you'll need to keep lots of maintenance on hand for one of those)--you'll have a machine that will outlive your grandchildren.

Well now!  'For their standard line, Royal is king.' would be a debating topic on which I would rather be among the opposition to the motion!

Alpina (double as standards) are better built.  Nothing is built better.
Olympia likewise (IME), and their standards offer a greater range of features required of a standard machine than do Royal.  As do, btw, all the top-of-the-line machines from other great manufacturers I know.
Hermes (in models such as the ambassador) knock any Royal that I have seen sideways.

Yes of course we all have our favourites - and or limits of experience!  Perhaps the statement was intended to apply only to typewriters from the USA?