Royals and Prejudice

Whilst on the royal theme, great news that Princess Beatrice is to have a 'Pride and Prejudice' themed 18th birthday party.

How Ridiculous wonders what sort of 'Mrs Bennett' The Duchess of York will make.

To mind comes that wonderful extract from Carol Thatcher's biography of her father, 'Below the Parapet'.

'At a dinner Denis found himself sitting next to the Duchess of York, who had recently been monopolizing the headlines.

'Oh, Denis, I do get an awful press, don't I,' she whined.

At which point Denis leaned back, pinched his thumb and forefinger together and made a theatrical zipping motion across his lips.

'Yes, Ma'am. Has it occurred to you to keep your mouth shut...?'

It seems The Duchess might have taken Sir Denis's advice for her response is not recorded.