LETTER : Polite way of dispensing with monarchy

YOU CLAIM I am a republican ("New republicans", 3 March). I am not. You take out of context a speech I made to Charter 88 in 1993 on the subject of monarchy and the established religion. What alarms me is, in Anthony Barnett's words, "the unlimited embodiment in the monarchy of church, state and constitution". If the monarchy does not find the courage to formally disconnect itself from the waving, drowning church, it too will be dragged under. The baby will be out with the bath water.

As Hillaire Belloc cautioned:

"...always keep a-hold of Nurse,

For fear of finding something worse."

Fay Weldon, London NW3