SIR – During his tour of Canada, the Prince of Wales, in a private conversation with a member of the public, reportedly compared president Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler because of his actions in Ukraine.

Many Britons shared the Prince’s concerns, but republican David Hornsby said this description was unmerited (Letters, May 23).

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the Prince “had got a point”, Prime Minister David Cameron remarked that everyone is entitled to their private opinion, while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said there was no requirement for the royals to adopt a “Trappist” vow of silence.

They were not being obsequious, Mr Hornsby, merely pointing out that the contents of anyone’s private conversation are not for the ears of people in the public domain.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford