Understanding why most people admire what the monarchy stands for
SIR – James Dixon (Letters, November 28) asks what there is about the monarchy “to justify the public’s glassy-eyed obsession”.
Yesterday, I met a keen anarchist in the endless queue in one of the few remaining banks in the West Country.
He was affable, recently retired and had received a retirement card from Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson, about which he was “glassy-eyed”, in Mr Dixon’s phrase. He also supported the IRA. Thus, we all have our heroes.
I knew at once that he wouldn’t understand the silent majority who retain loyalty to Queen and Country.
An ordinary soldier salutes an officer even if he loathes him because the officer represents the Queen. Her Majesty in turn represents the country and therefore the soldier’s wider family, for which he or she fights.
There’s another thing. Our current Queen and her family have a sense of duty. I wonder if my anarchist acquaintance does. Jacqueline King
Castle Cary, Somerset
SIR – It has been lovely to have some very happy news for a change. Many congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement. Just what Britain needed. Sandra Pearce
Nailsea, Somerset
SIR – It will be interesting to see if the Home Office grants a visa to the fiancée of an ex-army officer rather more quickly than to the wife of a serving Fleet Air Arm pilot, as your paper reported a few weeks ago. Paul Rutherford
Bishops Sutton, Hampshire
SIR – Attention to this marital union is being directed from the wrong angle. It should be seen less as Ms Markle, a member of the public, being