Prince Charles was once obsessed with a particular beauty, Anna Wallace, and couldn't understand why she walked out on him after he spent the evening dancing with Camilla at the Queen Mother's 80th birthday party.

My husband was a serial adulterer, and there was nothing I could do about it: no questions I could ask him, no argument I could have with him, no explanation he could give me or pleas he could make for forgiveness.

The Queen has well-informed opinions of many of her bishops and likes those who are straightforward and intelligent. Both she and Prince Philip believe Christianity is as much about forgiveness as morality.

There was never any question of Prince Philip's four sisters being invited to his wedding to Princess Elizabeth. King George decided their connection to Nazi Germany was still too shaming.

The path of royal romance has never been smooth; Princess Margaret was unable to marry the man she loved because it meant renouncing her royal status, yet her uncle, the Duke of Windsor, gave up an empire for Wallis Simpson.

I had always thought that meditation was for ladies who lunch and have nothing better to do but indulge in whatever the latest fad may be.