Michael D Higgins and church service

Sir, – It is deeply disappointing that our head of State would refuse an invitation to attend a church service with the Queen by stating he is “not in a position to attend the ceremony” without clarifying why this is.

If the famously voluble President Michael D Higgins does not want to attend then he should simply say so. Treating the office in this fashion is completely unacceptable.

– Yours, etc,