Letter: Royals who deserve

Letter: Royals who deserve

What cheek if Chris Smith asked the Palace to make more of the royal collection available to the public ("Queen to move out of Palace", 23 November). The major part is already on open display in many royal homes or on loan to national institutions and special exhibitions. Built up over centuries, it has no direct government funding. By contrast, the Government Art Collection comprises some 14,000 important works paid for by taxpayers but not generally on view to them.

Although only the Queen, her mother and husband are now paid from the civil list, the Royal Family carried out 3,712 official engagements last year, at home and abroad.

Jennifer Miller

London SW15