Glorifying the monarchy

REGARDING the recent visit of the Prince of Monaco and the upcoming visit of the Queen of England, I would like to express my bemusement.

While we are a democratic republic we seem intent on glorifying the elitism and hierarchy of monarchy.

The idea that they are any better than, or deserve any more respect than, anyone else is perverse.

Even while a large proportion of people in countries that retain their monarchies would like to see the back of them, citing reasons ranging from economic to elitism, we spend millions ensuring their security merely to have the supposed honour of a visit from what should be seen as a common private citizen in any modern democracy.

The point has been made that encouraging these visits is a sign that we have moved on and that we are more mature.

On the contrary, these sycophantic invitations prove the exact opposite.

Aodhagán Mac Coitir

Dundrum

Dublin 16