MY only interest in the constantly-expanding Royal Family and their doings is that they are they are supported almost entirely at the expense of the British public through the public taxes we pay. Obviously the Queen, her husband and the heir to the throne are entitled to such full support.

But inevitably there is now a constantly-growing squad of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, very few of whom seem to have a “proper job” which provides them with an income sufficient for them to live on in the style to which they have been brought up to expect. The Queen is now into her nineties and the heir to her throne into his seventies – both well past the normal retiral age for most of their “loyal subjects” who at that age have to scrape by on their mostly meagre public pensions.

And what do the royals need all that money for? The maintenance and upkeep of their several palaces are paid for out of public funds, as are all or most of their travel and daily living expenses. I doubt if the Queen or Prince Charles ever have to sit down and sign a cheque, and certainly never have to check their bank balance before doing so.

Perhaps the funding of the ever-expanding Royal Family is just “a drop in the bucket” in the overall annual public spending, but that is not the point. In an age when there are many pensioners living longer, and thousands of young people struggling to make ends every week, the justification of so much public money spent on a small but expanding group of privileged royals must at least be subject to question.

Iain AD Mann, Glasgow G12.

I WOULD like to announce that I have changed my name in order to take over the role vacated by Prince Harry. I will be much cheaper as I will not need a large number of staff to look after me, practically no bodyguards, one house will do me and I doing fancy loads of foreign jaunts in executive jets. I will turn up to charity events, smile a lot, shake loads of hands and be grateful for the fabulous remuneration on offer.

As I live in Dumbarton, I will keep the title Earl of Dumbarton and my travel costs will be nil. I sent in my application, but as yet have had no reply – The Firm is probably waiting to see if they get a better offer.

Brian McKenna, Dumbarton.

IAN Thomson (Letters, January 11) is kindly concerned over “how the douce denizens of the ancient town of Dumbarton …. are coping with the brouhaha generated by the decision of their Earl and Countess to stand back from frontline royal duties. Are they struggling to deal with the turmoil?” Can I assure him that the answer is Naw. Nae bother.

As Mr Thomson observes, it seems that “long holidays in Canada appear to take precedence” for our Earl and Countess, which is their loss. Not only will they miss the often-spectacular views from the top of the castle, they have denied themselves the delight of shopping trips on High Street, or to make use of the facilities at the Meadow Centre.

I do wonder, though, if either of them, despite their titles, has any idea where Dumbarton is?

Alasdair Galloway, Dumbarton.