Royal children could be historians of the future, Lady Antonia tells Prince

THE DUKE of Cambridge’s children could be budding historians, Lady Antonia Fraser has told him.

Lady Antonia, famed for her biographies and marriage to playwright Harold Pinter, returned to Buckingham Palace to become a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. Despite having been made a dame, she admitted feeling “just as nervous” ahead her return trip to Buckingham Palace where she received recognition for services to literature. “It is a great honour, and it’s a pleasure,” she said.

The historian said William had been keen to know whether her interest in the subject began in childhood, telling how his own children are avid readers.

She said: “He asked me whether I’d always been interested in history as a child and so I said: ‘Yes, I used to write history as a child, so look out’, meaning your (William’s) own children.

“And he said his own children are always reading books. He was very sweet and charming, as a father.”

The Prince also joked that he had been gently scolded by his own father for not reading enough history, she said.

“He said his father, the Prince of Wales, said he didn’t read enough history and I said ‘well that can be remedied’,” she said, laughing.

“He was altogether delightful, natural.”

Also honoured were former national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant, awarded a Knight Grand Cross under the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, for his services to UK foreign and national security policy.