FURTHER to Gary Webb's letter in the Worcester News, August 15, Griffin statues now mark the boundaries of the "City" of London which was originally walled in, after Roman occupation. Over the years it has pushed out to the "Financial Square Mile" and since the IRA bombings there now claims to be protected with a "Ring of Steel."

The "City" has a resident population of roughly 8,000 but a daily working population of some 350,000 with its own Lord Mayor, its own independent "City" of London Police, six main line and 12 tube underground stations, but shares some services with Mayor Ken Livingstone's Greater London.

When our Queen visits the "City" she is met by the Lord Mayor at Temple Bar, she bows and ask permission to enter his private, sovereign State. He grants permission to enter by handing her the sword of State.

During such State visits, the Lord Mayor in his chain and robes and his entourage in mediaeval costume, outshines the royal party, who can dress up no further than service uniforms. The Mayor leads the Queen into the "City," staying a pace or two behind him.

As the former British Prime Minister Disraeli wrote: "So you see the world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes."

E WALTER CARR,

Malvern.