Madam,

I have for many years wondered why the second Severn Bridge has never been given a name as all other Welsh bridges have.

Now that the Welsh Assembly have at last decided on one, this name has caused much controversy for Welsh residents, especially those who do not believe in the monarchy and are protesting at the decision of ‘Prince of Wales’ as the name.

Whereas I cannot fault the Queen for her so many years of loyal service and her personal standing of respect not only throughout this country but also by the Commonwealth and many countries of the world, I do ask how the status of the present-day monarchy originated, as whatever our personal belief in the establishment of the monarchy we are all aware that it is just a ‘pretence’ and that those with royal titles are all part of this ‘act’, however loved or rejected by our citizens.

It is difficult to establish what the actual members of royalty were set up to do but easy to recognise that this establishment must have been born out of the power of certain groups. With still such divided opinion I now ask if our historians would inform readers of the origins of this ‘set up’ that so many just accept and still physically bow to, knowing that their blood is just a red as ours. And, returning to my original interest, I ask readers what they would have suggested as a name for the bridge if they had been consulted by the Welsh Assembly.

Yours etc

Pat Bates, Maes-Maelor, Penparcau, Aberystwyth.

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