Charles must not stray into politics

AND so it has come to pass that Prince Charles is again given a platform (this time by BBC Radio 4) to make pronouncements to the nation (“Prince warns of return to ‘dark days of the 1930s’”, The Herald, December 23). This is, of course, only one of the many lectures and speeches given by His Royal Highness over the years. While on this occasion, he denounces the persecution of minority faiths, he does not specify those responsible for this despicable behaviour other than a vague reference to “populist groups”.

One can, in some ways, understand a certain detachment from reality. Here is a man with limited experience in the armed forces who subsequently became vice-admiral in the Royal Navy, lieutenant-general in the army, and marshal in the Royal Air Force. Such conferments, with their decorated uniforms, will do nothing to moderate any tendency to vanity and stuffiness.

Like any other individual person in this country, he is, of course, entitled to express his views, provided they are expressed reasonably and not contrary to law. Eventually, however, he is likely to succeed his mother as monarch. Since the Crown is expected to act as a unifying symbol for the nation, it has been traditional, conventional, and commonsensical for the monarch to refrain from participating in the world of politics. Charles may find it difficult, in the light of past performance, to restrain himself upon ascending the throne. Ian W Thomson, 38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.