What a bummer....

My father used to say that the Royal Family only enjoyed such wealth and privilege, because their ancestors had been bigger thugs than ours, and that underneath the ermine and pearls, they were just the same as the rest of us.

He didn't say it because he was an anti-royalist, but because he wanted us to understand that being born with money and position in no way guaranteed a happy and useful life (who mentioned Prince Andrew?)

'You're only living' he once told me 'if you give something back. Help anyone who needs help, be kind, and envy no-one.'

He respected the Queen. I did too....