The best of fathers

We watched The Madness of King George on TV a few days ago, one of those "wasn't it good, haven't seen that for a long time" films that you hadn't planned to watch but noticed it was on when you had nothing better to do.

Here he is on his horse, in the pose and dress of a Roman emperor. The statue was commissioned by his son, George IV, who had it inscribed in Latin - The best of fathers. Was the sentiment genuine or a guilty, possibly sarcastic, gesture after his father's death? They couldn't abide each other.

The statue is at the end of the long walk from Windsor Castle. I'd walked to Windsor on the riverbank from Egham with Bill as we're planning a Magna Carta walk for the FT Old Lags. George III, incidentally, was the one who lost the American colonies. It was never the same after that.

Seasonal note: the first catkins are appearing and with them, the itchy eyes and runny nose I always get when the tree pollen starts.