Madam, – Nigel Smith finds the very concept of monarchy “abhorrent and anachronistic” (April 15th) and fails to see how the hereditary system can still operate in this day and age. It might interest Mr Smith to know that apart from the UK, many other countries have constitutional monarchies-Japan, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg as well as the principalities of Monaco and Liechtenstein.
None of these counties is the recipient of EU/IMF “bailouts” unlike Greece, Portugal and Ireland (former monarchies). Interesting? Also should Ireland decide to opt for a constitutional monarchy The O’Conor Don would make a very good candidate.
As the direct descendant of the former Kings of Connaught and Ireland, he has the strongest claim to the Irish throne. Stranger things have happened in Irish history. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Whether one writes “queen” with an upper-case or lower-case Q is not a question of grammar, but of orthography. Queen Victoria was not a Battenberg, but a member of the house of Hanover. But such has been the tediousness of the old guff about the queen’s visit on your Letters page that these small errors almost count as highlights. – Yours, etc,