A little bit of what you fancy

Ooh Betty, that is a top hat

WISE reflections from Thelma Edwards (“Keep calm and cogitate is a lesson that has served me well in life”, Letters, June 23), to which I would add: masticate.

Indulge oneself with some chocolate now and then, ice cream and strawberries, perhaps the occasional wee goldie and treat yourself to whatever takes your fancy; all within reason, of course, and in the best possible taste.

R Russell Smith, 96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.

IT is a rare day that the Queen’s fashion choices make the news pages. There is not much of a message that one can convey with a silk day dress and matching coat. But a hat? Now you are talking.

Her Majesty’s headgear at the State Opening of Parliament this week was the talk of the internet steamie. Was her Delphinium-blue number, complete with golden dots, a subversive nod to the flag of the European Union? I doubt it, but she probably had a good giggle about all the fuss when she returned from Ascot that evening.

It must be marvellous to be the Queen and wear a hat every day. Unless one is a monarch, an archbishop, or similar, it is difficult to sport a hat without looking like a right titfer. I once bought a beret in Saks Fifth Avenue and thought I looked the very dab. But on returning to Glasgow, I managed all of five minutes of beret-wearing peace before the first Frank Spencer impersonation arrived, followed by an ‘Allo, ‘Allo skit.

The Queen has no such problems. Then again, I’ve never seen her wearing a beret in Glasgow.