Recent Readers' Letters contributions show, yet again, how sensitive Royalists are to any criticism of the monarchy.

Often such correspondents quote some other country (anything from the USA to Zimbabwe) as awful examples of what Britain would be like if we were to become a republic.

Those Royalists ignore the fact that 100 miles west of this country is the Republic of Ireland, whilst 20-odd miles south-east is the French Republic.

Those countries can seriously claim to be true democracies. That is something Britain can only pretend to be while we tolerate our undemocratic, hereditary monarchy.

Colin S Jeffrey, East Mount Road, York.


* I have never, ever, written to a newspaper but, having read the amazing twaddle from Bryan Lawson of Stamford Bridge (Royals in arms, Letters, January 19), I feel a comment has to be made.

He writes in reply to a letter from Adam McCartney regarding the cost, to the taxpayer, of Prince William's flying lessons, but at no time does he offer any justification, rather going into an irrelevant rant about Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.

We all know that Prince Harry wanted to go to Iraq but was prevented from doing so, and by the same token William will never use any flying skills in the interest of the country.

In fact, the most he will probably be able to do will be to take an aircraft up for a jolly and bring it down again, while Prince Andrew was a fully-trained operational pilot.

Mr Lawson writes that Prince William is a very special young man, which he is, but in the same sentence he declares him to be "ordinary", which is a contradiction in terms. As for being honoured by his coming to Yorkshire to stay, it was not his choice to come here but we have the best training base with better single-engined aircraft than he is currently using at Cranwell.

As Mr McCartney says, his question has not been answered.

Gordon A Potts.

St Nicholas Way, Wigginton, York.