Why couldn’t Macron make it to Amiens?

SIR – It was splendid on Wednesday in Amiens. Warm, but not too hot, the canicule having ended with a violent thunderstorm the night before.

I met three Australians who had come all the way from Adelaide to commemorate the centenary of the battle. There were official representatives from their country, as well as from New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the United States and Ireland. Prince William and Theresa May represented Britain.

It was therefore disappointing that President Macron could not be bothered to attend. It was, after all, the country he now represents which was liberated. Does he not know this – or does he simply not care? David Crawford

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire SIR – I was a little surprised by the

prominence given to the American army in the commemorations – given that American troops actually took no part in the fighting.

They were indeed there at the time, but General Pershing, who did not like Field Marshal Haig, was at pains to keep them away from the action. Michael St John Parker

Bampton, Oxfordshire

SIR – I was concerned by the BBC commentator’s persistent mispronunciation of the city, but pleased that the Duke of Cambridge got it right.

During my French lessons in the Fifties, we paid meticulous attention to the 16 vowel sounds, using a mirror to ensure that our lips were in the correct position to pronounce them. Athol Forsyth

Norwich