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Queen's favourite cowboy
SIR: Regarding the Rant in the September issue concerning Paddington wearing a hat in royal presence, I imagine that the writer had not heard the anecdote by the Queen’s horse whisperer, Monty Roberts, where he had apologised for not removing his cowboy hat when speaking to her. She corrected him that this was not required by anyone in uniform and swiftly accorded his outfit the status of ‘uniform’.
It seems likely, following the discussions on royal protocol that would have preceded the audience, that Her late Majesty, with her legendary impish sense of fun, would have given Paddington’s outfit the same status. Hence, I feel that we can remove this concern about the bear’s behaviour.
Charles Pardoe, Dean, Hampshire
Chips Channon was a snob
SIR: I am with Nicky Haslam (October issue) in admiring the diaries of‘Chips’ Channon, but ill at ease with, P726). The declarations are repeated several times in Volumes II and III.
