A thoroughly modern monarch? Unfortunately not

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

This new monarch can kick start some fresh attitudes, eradicating the cruelty involved in upholding pageantry (PA)

We were disappointed to see that this weekend’s coronation of King Charles III included the grotesque showcasing of bearskin hats and cruel ermine robes that may be “traditional”, but support and glamourise outdated cruelty that has no place in today’s society.

After making several strides to modernise the monarchy and promises to reflect the climate of today’s culture, we’re surprised King Charles still included items in his coronation that steadfastly go against the animal welfare commitments that he alluded to supporting as his reign began.

We hope this new monarch can kick start some fresh attitudes, where eradicating cruelty takes precedence over upholding pageantry and outdated traditions.

With these impactful changes, we believe a truly modern monarchy will be able to shine through.

Sonul Badiani-Hamment

UK country director at Four Paws UK

What qualifies the monarchy for its role?

I have no objection to the royals living the life of Riley at their own expense, provided that they do not negatively impact anyone else and that their funds are genuinely their own.

However, I have two main objections to hereditary monarchy. One is that any royalist activities should not be paid for by the public. More seriously, anyone who wishes to represent us at the highest level – or indeed any level, from parish council upwards – should derive their democratic legitimacy from us, the people. It is not enough for the holder of any representative post, from the head of state downwards, to claim that their qualification for doing the job is that their parent used to do it.

Sam Boote

Nottingham

The coronation shows what the nation stands for

I agree with Gavin Turner’s recent letter to The Independent, that our parliamentary system desperately needs reform. This will not happen until a reforming party is elected with a substantial majority that enables it to effect change. The Conservative Party will never want to change a system that has served them very nicely for generations.

As John Curtice’s analysis suggests, a Labour victory at the next general election will likely be narrow and short-lived. As things stand, it will be the result of disenchantment with the failure of the Conservative government and not alignment with Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. So far, Starmer has been, some might say, overcautious by trying to avoid alienating any segment of the electorate and, in so doing, has made it hard to know exactly what he stands for and what he will change in the future.

The bigger question is what the nation itself stands for and what it is willing to support. If Gavin Turner is right in saying that the coronation shows that we are an inclusive nation that values service and collective engagement within our culture and for the common good then this is what our politicians need to communicate. We need a unifying vision that can be delivered through sincere and workable policies.

There is nothing that the present government has done that suggests that they believe in anything but the survival of the fittest. This is what Labour need to expose while being bold enough to show that they can deliver the change needed if we are to realise the currently understated values that would appear to have been on display during the coronation.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

The population appears to have been hoodwinked

For the first time ever I have to disagree with Judith A Daniels. I regularly say to my wife that I could have written her letters myself, as we are so much on the same wavelength. Many healthy democracies managed to install democratically elected presidents rather than relying on an archaic system of undeserved privilege.

There is also the question of the huge cost to the taxpayer when the King is thought to be the wealthiest person in the country. This is when millions of people are reliant on food banks, struggling to pay rent and avoiding turning on their heating. The bottom line is that a large proportion of the population appears to have been hoodwinked into thinking that the only way is monarchy.

David Felton

Cheshire