SIR – Emma Clayton asks (T&A, April 12), “what is dimming our enthusiasm for the big day?”

Has Emma forgotten that just as Kate and William were announcing their plans to get married, Lord Young was sacked from the Government for saying, “We have never had it so good”.

Clearly Kate and William and the other royals on benefits have never had it so good and they have good reason to celebrate, along with the bankers and other friends of Lord Young, who round here would probably live where the street parties are planned in Ilkley, Baildon, Burley and Cullingworth.

But what about the thousands of hard-working couples, many of whom will be facing reduced maintenance support for their education and deep cuts in the services that support and help young people overcome the problems of growing up in inner Bradford, only to be faced with the highest level of youth unemployment we have seen for generations?

Big-day marriage for them is not an option. For most young couples, the future looks very hard and, while no-one wishes Kate and William any ill, round here they have few friends to celebrate their good fortune.

John Baruch, Greenside Cottage, Clayton