I was amused when I read Frank Edwards' thoughts on Britain and the Royal family (Letters, December 6).

Surely there's more to Britain than the monarchy?

I don't understand why it should be such a large part of a nation's identity.

The money spent on the Royals could be better spent on education and eliminating the need for university top-up fees.

As for the Royal family being what ties Britain with its former empire, I have many friends from New Zealand who do not see the point of having a head of state on the other side of the world.

Times have changed and Britain should find new ways of appealing to the outside world.

-Nadia Sderman, Hove