Queen needs to wear gloves

Dear editor: Re: Simple rules for behaving nicely, Herald, Letters, May 3

Mr. Smithyman gets some things right: blowing one’s nose in a restaurant is not behaving nicely, it is disgusting.

When a nose is blown it should be in private, and hands washed immediately after.

Controlling children in a restaurant is a good idea too, as is, not loud conversation especially on a phone, take the phone call away from the dining area.

But some of his points might be argued; the one thing I take objection to is his criticism of the Queen wearing gloves.

His comments betray his lack of knowledge.

The Queen shakes many, many hands during her visits, some of those hands may well have been used to clean noses!

The most effective thing we can do to prevent spread of diseases is to wash our hands. This, the Queen is unable to do, until the introductions, etc. are finished.

She cannot just slip to the bathroom, as we do.

By wearing gloves she has some protection from disease-causing bacteria and virus.

Interesting Mr. Smithyman uses the word “obscene” in relation to her wearing of gloves.

I call deep nose blowing and honking in public, especially restaurants obscene!

Mr. Smithyman also insults someone he has never met, by his disdainful use of “Miss Elizabeth” and by insinuating the Queen sees citizens as” peasants.”

Last word: Wearing gloves prevents the Queen from having to touch people's clammy, sweaty, unwashed hands. Katie Di Iuorio Oliver