THE

Queen has always preferred to overlook anything potentially unpleasant rather than confront it, in the belief that if she ignores it long enough it will go away.

What’s more, the Queen Mother had warned her against becoming too involved in the problems of her offspring and their families. On one occasion, when they were discussing the children’s problems, the Queen Mother looked up from her game of patience. ‘Darling,’ she told the Queen, ‘I don’t know why you care any more. It’s another generation . . . just let them get on with it.’ She then dealt herself another hand.