Crown duels as cost splits us all

■ FURTHER to Kevin Maguire’s criticism of the cost of the forthcoming Coronation (May 1) which may be up to £250million – this is a national occasion which hasn’t happened since 1953.

While the cost of living crisis and the current Government’s attempts to distract the public’s attention may lead some to believe an expensive coronation inappropriate, bear in mind the late Queen was often more in tune with public opinion than her prime ministers.

And King Charles has also demonstrated he has a social conscience and commands the respect of a majority of Britons.

Therefore on balance, I think the Coronation’s cost of around £4 per person is worthwhile and I wish Charles III a long and happy reign. Keeley-Jasmine Cavendish South East London

■ Why does a man who is worth almost £2billion not pay for his Coronation himself and make sure the £250m goes to the NHS? This would benefit all of us. Why should all this money go to a bunch of privileged and pampered individuals? As for the swearing of allegiance, what a joke that is. The only allegiance we owe is to our families, not a bunch of people who really don’t care what we think anyway. Will I be watching the Coronation? No. I have a wall to paint and then I have to watch it dry. Christine Brown, Hull

■ I get fed up with reading Brian Reade and Kevin Maguire calling for an end to the monarchy. The last time that happened was in 1646 when the Royalists, led by Charles I, were defeated in the English Civil War.

The King was replaced by Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, a divisive Puritan who abolished Christmas, closed down the taverns and persecuted Catholics.

After Cromwell’s death in 1658, King Charles II restored the monarchy and it has remained ever since. Do the anti-royalist brigade seriously want the possibility of a dictatorship?

Steve Goulding, Sheffield

■ I read with concern your report on the crisis in East Africa where millions face starvation (April 28). At the same time you reported on the expensive farce of Charles’ Coronation. Would it not be better for the millions spent on this to be sent to those poor people? Now that would be something worth celebrating.

Peter Brown, Swindon

■ Why do professed republicans Kevin Maguire and Brian Reade have to be so gratuitously rude about King Charles and the Royal Family? Politics-wise, I’m in tune with them but on this thorny question, I long for a semblance of reasoned debate.

Take personalities out of it and give me chapter and verse on what republicanism would do for this country, with sane and measured comments. Would a republican revolution benefit the country or would an elected head of state, polarise our nation even further?

Let’s open the debate – and without the insults.

Judith Daniels

Great Yarmouth

■ Why do taxpayers have to fork out for Charles’s medieval party when he’s worth £1.8bn. He should pay it and use the £250m to give NHS workers a decent pay rise? This is the 21st century and we are living in the past. Kings and queens should be confined to the history books and Disney fairytales. Mark Foster, Hayle, Cornwall

■ Whoever thought it a good idea to get TV viewers of the Coronation to swear an oath of allegiance should be sent to the Tower. In millions of homes, granny will loyally comply, the kids will utter oaths of a different kind and mum will try to restore peace and fail. Ken Pease, Stockport