Cass Witcombe says the Duke of York’s BBC interview should result in a debate about the monarchy and taxpayer support for it. Scott Wilson compares his behaviour with that of Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg

Prince Andrew’s failure, in his BBC interview, to show any compassion for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims must surely trigger a debate about paring back the bloated monarchy and reviewing the extent of taxpayer support for it (Scandal forces prince to suspend public duties, 21 November). Offering financial support and blind deference to such individuals as the Duke of York has damaged Britain’s reputation as a mature democracy.

Cass Witcombe

London

• Prince Andrew’s lack of empathy is on a par with Boris Johnson’s detached visit to Yorkshire’s flooded villages and Jacob Rees-Mogg’s disdain for the inhabitants of Grenfell Tower. Whatever qualities public schools inculcate in their students, clearly empathy is not one of them.

Scott Wilson

Strathkinness, St Andrews, Fife