Editorial Comment:

SIR – Paul Hornby (Letters, June 12) is right to state that the Prince of Wales has led a “useful life”. However, it is wrong to suggest that, due to his age, he should step aside when the time comes for him to be crowned king.

The Prince’s “useful life” has been driven by an overwhelming sense of public duty and service as reflected in and informed by his motto, Ich Dien (“I serve”). Furthermore, any voluntary renunciation of his right to succeed would ultimately undermine the principle of hereditary monarchy.

The only exception, I would suggest, should be if some incumbent were to be mentally or physically incapacitated, in which case a regency would suffice. Our system works well and should be left alone. Iain D Bailey

London N5

SIR – I read Mr Hornby’s letter with interest, especially as I, too, will be 70 later this year – about six weeks after the Prince of Wales.

I retired of my own volition when I was 63. However, there are plenty of examples of people working well beyond 70, although it is much less common for someone to start on a new role after that age.

Donald Trump did it, and we should not forget that the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will be 70 next May. So we have the prospect of a king and a potential prime minister beginning important new roles after reaching the magic three score years and ten.

Is this the dream team that the British government has been lacking? David Cowgill

Knutsford, Cheshire

SIR – Both the EU referendum and the election of Donald Trump in the US have shown how divisive the vox populi can be, and how it can be exploited by politicians. Part of the appeal and effectiveness of the monarchy is that it sits above all this.

If the Prince of Wales decided to renounce his succession in favour of his young son and his beautiful wife it might be popular in the short term, but would set a precedent that made the monarchy vulnerable to becoming little more than a regal version of Strictly Come Dancing: “Phone lines are now open! Will you be voting for shy George or naughty Charlotte as our next king or queen?”

The Queen and the Prince of Wales both know this, which is why they will dutifully carry on carrying on – whatever they might personally prefer. Victor Launert

Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

SIR – Paul Hornby reminds us that the Prince of Wales “has been ahead of his time on issues such as the environment”.

Indeed, the Prince warned us that there were “less than 100 months to act” to prevent “catastrophic climate change”, in a speech he gave in Rio de Janeiro. That was in March 2009, meaning that the 100 months expired in July 2017.

Ahead of his time? Norman Revill

London N20