Yesterday, for the first time in my life I watched the opening of parliament and the Queen's Speech live on TV. What struck me most was how undignified it is for anyone, let alone the Queen, to have to act as someone else's puppet, announcing a political programme, much of which she may or may not personally agree with.

I have nothing against maintaining traditions - even the monarchy, provided Charles, the Green Prince, becomes our next, hopefully, Green King - but we should not allow them to become a farce. A few years ago in her speeches the Queen was announcing the policies of Mrs Thatcher's government as though they were her own, now it is those of Mr Blair's government. If that is not a farce, I do not know what is.

The Queen - or at least her successor - should be granted the same dignity and human rights as the rest of us, instead of making a puppet and a mockery of her.

The Monarch should represent the nation, not a particular government's policies.

Let a representative of the government announce its own policies.

Yours sincerely

Roger Hicks