THOSE who decry the Royal family must be most disappointed by the courage and fortitude shown by our 85-year-old monarch. Courting potential disaster, the Queen is undertaking what must be the most dangerous royal visit of her reign.

From what I have seen, yet again she shows, beyond doubt, the dignity and grace so often associated with her.

How many elected heads of state carry out their duties with such aplomb under such a potential threat? We all recall how Tony Blair backed out of a book signing because of threatened demonstrations.

Irish republicans have done themselves no favours.

Pictures of their cowardly demonstrators yet again hiding behind balaclavas, along with their “rent-a-mob” hoodies, some wearing English football team shirts, reveal their low, devious and serpentine manner.

This is a sharp contrast to the Queen and an insult to the decent and law-abiding majority of Irish people.

C Mortimer, Pity Me.

I SUPPORT the Queen’s state visit to Ireland because it could presage future good relations between Britain and Ireland and closure of the history of bitterness between the two.

It is the formal expression of reconciliation that has led to Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists sharing power and working constructively in Northern Ireland.

It is not the end of the journey, but it portends that it is possible for all parties to be comfortable with a united Ireland in the future.

It may even become a lesson from history that no nation is entitled to conquer and suppress another nation.

As long as it does, there is the inevitability of conflict. But when good sense prevails, a way can be found to peace and justice.

It would be great if there were more examples throughout the world of the process I have watched with great satisfaction in the British Isles G Bulmer, Billingham.