My wife and I have spent almost the whole of the jubilee weekend at home, relying on the press and broadcast media for reports about the festivities. The highlight of the long weekend was when we heard that Boris Johnson had been booed on his arrival at St Paul’s Cathedral and then had to read from Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right ... think about such things” (Boris Johnson booed as he arrives at St Paul’s for platinum jubilee event, 3 June).
Even God must have chuckled. We laughed long and loud. Whoever was responsible for this deserves to be top of the Queen’s next honours list.
Ken Vines
Horrabridge, Devon
• The double irony of Boris having to read Philippians 4:8 at the jubilee service is that the founding text of the British Broadcasting Corporation, inscribed in Latin in the entrance hall of Broadcasting House and adopted as the motto under the BBC coat of arms, refers to this biblical verse. Perhaps BBC-bashing ministers should “think about such things”.
Christopher Graham
Hale, Manchester
• Priti Patel suggested that MPs should not risk overshadowing the platinum jubilee by plotting against Boris Johnson, and should instead concentrate on rallying behind the Queen. What better way could they rally behind her than by ousting the man who was accused of misleading her over his unlawful prorogation of parliament? What a gift that would be for her to celebrate her jubilee.
Rev Stephen Goodwin
Werrington, Cambridgeshire
• Polly Toynbee’s article (For today, even republicans like me can put up with the pomp with a drink in hand, 2 June) caused me to reflect on my attitude to the jubilee. I had a different reason for being ambivalent, because anything approaching patriotic jingoism makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. This originated at my school in South Yorkshire in the 1950s, where the headmistress always made it clear she was there to educate, not indoctrinate. She never allowed us to sing the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country because of the line “the love that asks no questions”. It was her business to teach us to ask questions, and I’m still doing it 70 years later.
Dr Christine Kent
Southwell, Nottinghamshire
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