Queen and country

SIR – Beekeepers have a phrase for a hive that rejoices in its queen; the colony is described as “queenright”.

Much else may be defective in this country at present, but I think we may safely be described as queenright. James Buffy-maun

Trerulefoot, Cornwall

SIR – Even for a republican, it was wonderful to watch Her Majesty the Queen celebrate Trooping the Colour from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Britain and the Commonwealth are indebted to the sovereign for her seven decades of faultless service.

Dominic Shelmerdine

London SW3

SIR – While watching Trooping the Colour I was reminded of being at Expo 67 in Montreal in 1967. One of the events was a display by groups from around the world, including the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

The weather was terrible with torrential rain and many people pulled out. In atrocious conditions, the King’s Troop performed impeccably and received a standing ovation.

It is a cliché but true – nobody does these things better than us.

Maggie Hughes

Gnosall, Staffordshire

SIR – Understandably, the Queen did not attend Trooping the Colour at Whitehall yesterday, but she did make appearances on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Was this the ultimate in working from home?

Julian Shaw

Sidmouth, Devon

SIR – Yesterday I watched with awe Trooping the Colour, a thing of beauty and precision enjoyed by millions.

This military parade did not feature a single tank or missile carrier. It is a reminder that similar events in totalitarian states have the sole aim of striking fear into the rest of the world. How sad for their citizens.

Tim Lee

Kenilworth, Warwickshire

sir – On June 1953 our family lunched at the officers’ mess of my father’s regiment, before watching the Coronation parade on a small and flickering television.

The highlight of the meal was a pudding of red, white and blue blancmange – I recall the blue being nearer to battleship grey. The mess sergeant had had to ask my father for the French for blancmange in order to write the menus.

Wynne Weston-davies

Calne, Wiltshire