United with pride for our country

THE bunting flutters over our gate. Yesterday we went to a jolly village gathering in a field, local bands playing.

We merry monarchists are fortunate not to be afflicted by dreary Puritan zeal (enough of that in the 17th century!) and to celebrate with ‘cakes and ale’.

When I was little, my brother and I stayed with my grandparents every Saturday night, so my parents could go out.

My grandmother (a cleaner and school dinner lady) and I would go through the week’s Daily Mirrors she’d saved and cut out scrapbook pictures of the Royal Family, especially little Charles and Anne. How we loved them all.

At the time, the Labour Party my grandfather (Somme, Ypres, wounded at Dunkirk) supported was, under Clement Attlee, proudly patriotic and my hardworking grandparents passionate royalists. There was nothing else to be. This is what I learned at their knees.

Now, as well as rejoicing in our Queen’s long reign, I’m flying my flag for somebody else. He is intelligent, charming, debonair, with a cheeky sense of humour and a deep understanding of issues vital to our time.

In fact, he’s always been far ahead of his time. Recycling? Communing with the natural world? Realising that people thrive in handsome, traditional buildings? Understanding that the young need encouragement most of all — and doing something about it? How amazingly wise.

He’s kind, writes beautifully, talks about Shakespeare with knowledgeable love, twinkles at young and old and is moved beyond speech by things of the spirit. How lucky we are to have this man as heir to the throne.

Yes, I’m talking about the Prince of Wales — and, by the way, I know, rather than just think, all of the above.

It makes me so happy to be in the majority here. In celebrating the Queen and the longevity of our Monarchy this weekend we are uniting in pride at who we are. That means our traditions and the tolerant greatness of our small country.