At past coronations, seats were provided for all peers who wanted them. Since the last coronation in 1953, life peers have come into existence and the number of hereditary peers able to sit in the House of Lords has been cut sharply. At next year’s coronation the total number of people invited will be much smaller than in 1953. Balloting among peers for places is inevitable. An article on the subject in The Daily Telegraph on October 17 drew a response from Alistair Lexden, which was published on October 20.
SIR - Dr Bob Morris of UCL’s Constitution Unit (article, October 17) thinks that a ballot will be held among the 90 hereditary peers who remain in the House of Lords to decide which of them will attend the “slimmed-down” coronation, with or without robes and coronets - many of which seem to have been lost since 1953.
He says nothing about the 735 life peers who are also members of the Lords. Should they not have their own ballot? It may be felt that they do not deserve many seats, but I hope they are not to be excluded altogether.
I have been looking forward to taking my chance in a ballot, readily accepting I may well be unlucky. Our King’s coronation service must reflect the diversity of our country today.
Lord Lexden
London SW1
