Re: Mrs Perry waxing lyrical regarding the Opening of Parliament extravaganza in Westminster last week. Perhaps it should have read, at the present time of austerity, Pomp and Circumstance(s). Then perhaps we could have her, using the Freedom of Information Act, let us know the enormous cost to the British taxpayer? For I am sure that all are aware by now that our circumstances under the present government ‘are not good’.

Make no mistake, I have enormous regard for our Queen. I am a Royalist for sure, having served her in the military for many, many years, and grew up alongside her long reign (I am 83, and still class myself as a British Subject (of the Queen) regardless of what my passport now officially says since 1984).

Further, I have no objection whatsoever to the Trooping of the Colour, as this attracts many American and worldwide tourists to London and the UK.

But to return to the Cinderella ceremony extravaganza of last week with Black Rod knocking three times on the door (not once, not twice, but three times), and the Sergeant at Arms, with his black tights and buckle shoes etc. Well, really, can we afford it any longer if in Wiltshire we can’t even afford to keep the street lights burning and even the public toilets open any longer?

Come on Mrs Perry, let’s get you in the average person’s real world, as the time has come to think of many things (as the walrus said). One of them surely is the ridiculously expensive spectacle of this kind in the Year of Our Lord 2016?

MR NEV COOPER, Bottlesford, Woodborough