Denied new toys by a frugal mum

DESPITE all her riches, the Queen was forever looking for ways of making small savings when her children were young.

She had the endearing — if incorrect — belief that by counting the pennies, the pounds of royal expenditure would somehow manage to look after themselves.

It was for this reason that Edward slept in the same cream-painted cot that his brothers and sister had used, and played with the same toys.