Sir, Philip Collins poured scorn and misery on the national preparations for the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as he castigated those who respect her role and position as “fawning” and the event as “propaganda” (“Pity the poor republican this jubilee weekend”, Opinion, June 1).
I feel sad for Philip Collins and his republican friends, who cannot see the current wave of joy in being British, who cannot understand the value of the leadership which the Queen provides, the pride she engenders, the stimulus of the Jubilee celebrations in renewing our belief in ourselves as a nation, our ability to forget our problems and for a moment revel in the unity of being British and all that means. It means an island community, who can work together, proud of our traditions of pageantry, able to take a few days off to enjoy ourselves under a symbolic British flag which unites us all.
Shame on the killjoys who would undermine these traditions and disregard our pride and unity in our great little country and try to spoil our moment of fun together.
Arthur Dicken
Prestbury, Cheshire
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Sir, By having a constitutional monarchy we can all associate with an apolitical individual; differences in our opinions and ideologies do not affect this. Anyone who values our country’s reputation for tolerance ought to prefer a non-political head of state rather than an elected president who would be a source of division. Surely that is why so many people opposed the notion of executive mayors and possibly why elections for police commissioners will flop.
John Williamson
Hove, E Sussex
Sir, Philip Collins is not quite correct in stating that the Queen has never given an interview. Her Majesty, with HRH Prince Philip, was interviewed for television on the royal yacht Britannia during her 1979 tour of the Gulf States. The permitted questions were so anodyne, however, that it was not a success, and the Queen clearly did not enjoy the experience.
Only once thereafter did palace officials drop their guard. My programme about Britannia, made in October 1980 during the royal tour of Italy, was recorded on board the yacht without permission. Fortunately the Lord Chamberlain liked the rough cut and allowed it subsequently to be broadcast when, he said, he ought really to be sending me to the Tower.
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Roger Macdonald
Former Producer, BBC Outside Broadcasts
Richmond, Surrey