Monarchy will long outlive Hilary’s books

ON Wednesday May 5 you included an article quoting the views of Hilary Mantel concerning the monarchy. I gained great comfort from it, knowing as I do that that institution will long outlive Hilary Mantel and her scribblings and that her books will all be mouldering on market bookstalls. I once tried to read an opus of hers and only got to page 10 before I tired of her style and gave up.

Perhaps she would like to provide a list of her choice of candidates for the position of president as an alternative to the monarchy - I could get her started with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, any one of a thousand lawyers, Philip Green and Keir Starmer. Possibly also the chap who