THE dust will settle, the haar will lift: it was gie dreich on Calton Hill for the Republican Rally, and still we will be left with a royal family enthroned, but more established, more entrenched than previously.

I’ve seen and heard talk of the potential for a more political monarch/y, some form of good new royal approach to ruling. Political with a small “p” being employed to enhance the monarchy’s reputation, to create some new form of worth and need.

In the past, Charles said and did if not exactly what he liked, at least with enough verve to be noticed. On occasion to gain plaudits, like establishing The Prince’s Trust in 1976. However, the sending of spidery letters to ministers over the years gained the reputation of political interference.

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How ironic that his scribbles could be seen as any form of interference when the late Queen interfered as often as she did, questioning laws that might be detrimental to her and The Firm. And it won’t change, since we know the monarch must consent to proposed legislation. To do anything other would provoke the spectre of crisis between monarch and government.

There is the royal household’s exemption from the Equality Act, freedom of information requests, and that biggie, exemption from inheritance tax, to name a few perks – and if that’s not benefitting from political interference, what is?

But the coronation concert did make a subliminal nod to the future and what might be considered “good interference” by Charles. There was the appeal to the like-minded, those caring about the environment, aimed deliberately at the younger generation. Along with the drones in the sky, bunnies and whales, there were reminders that Charles had been way ahead in the years past with his focus on the environment.

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At the age of 21 a major speech of his was on the dangerous effects of plastic pollution. His speaking out over the years culminated in him being invited to attend the 27th UN climate change conference in Egypt to give a speech: vetoed by his government, that one the one with a poor environmental record.

So is this a form of soft, non-political power that he and his advisers hope will make the new monarch more palatable, more acceptable, more up-to-date and relevant? Just the environment? With homelessness endemic across the UK, how about opening up some of his many residences, or if not the actual buildings, perhaps he could shed some of his estimated £600 million to pioneer the building of new sustainable housing projects.

Many who were ambivalent in the recent past about the idea of monarchy could well be watching the current stooshie surrounding the ostentatious displays of wealth and archaic traditions. Perhaps they’re questioning the Tory party political decision to introduce the draconian Public Order Act and asking if we need a monarch.

In an independent Scotland, we’ll have the time and space to decide.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

DESPITE four months of briefings between the Republic group and the Metropolitan Police, the Met broke their agreement by arresting six anti-monarchy protesters in scenes that wouldn’t look amiss in Red Square. In a volte-face, the Met have stated that they now” regret” their unlawful arrests.

Republic CEO Graham Smith, who was arrested and then released without charge, is set to take legal action against the Met. All I can say is GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

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It seems the Met took advantage of a new draconian law against protest and overzealously carried out “pre-emptive arrests”. The large number of vocal anti-monarchists didn’t look good on camera and so the foot soldiers for the establishment swung into action denying people the right to protest. If you needed evidence that the democratic right to protest is in danger, this is it.

Sandy Gordon
Edinburgh

HISTORY is repeating itself with the Labour Party. Just in the same way that the Blair government refused to repeal Thatcher’s anti-trade-union laws, so too has Starmer promised that his Labour Party – if they manage to make it into government – will not repeal the Tory anti-protest legislation.

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Saturday’s event where some rich dude got an expensive hat planted on his head saw the Met Police engage in pre-emptive policing – arresting people because they might have an objection to the millions wasted on a medieval ceremony while others are starving and struggling to heat their homes. It seems the Met was holding meetings with some of the protesters – not to enable a friendly protest but merely to identify who they were going to lift!

The UK is fast sliding into a fascist state where the police force is used as an arm of the government to stop protest and where human rights are not available for all. Yet we don’t have to put up with that. We do have another option – independence. Saturday’s march and rally in Glasgow highlighted the strong support for Scotland to take control of its own resources, so let’s stop wasting time on doing deals with Unionist voters and start backing the independence movement. As Saturday made clear, this movement is ready for action.

Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley