Why the King’s speech still matters
Later today, the King will address the nation, as he has annually since he acceded the throne in September 2022.…
King Charles has a long road to recovery ahead
At the end of what has undoubtedly been a true annus horribilis for the monarchy, King Charles, at least, seems…
The Royals should ban Andrew from Christmas
Sixty years ago, in the aftermath of one of the twentieth century’s most salacious scandals, the former MP John Profumo…
Prince Andrew’s Chinese ‘spy’ blunder is no surprise
It is fair to say that Prince Andrew has always had poor taste in friends. Notoriously, and reputation-shreddingly, he consorted…
Does David Beckham really deserve a knighthood?
Sir David Beckham. Sir Goldenballs. Once upon a time, when Beckham was in his sarong-wearing Nineties heyday, the idea of…
Was the Emir of Qatar’s visit a good idea?
As the first day of the Emir of Qatar’s state visit to Britain draws to a close, all those involved…
The new Jaguar is spectacularly hideous
Winston Churchill reputedly said ‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.’ This adage must have…
Shutting Smithfield shows a reckless disregard for London’s history
Virtually every aspect of London has changed beyond recognition in the past nine hundred years, but there has been one…
A century of Hollywood’s spectacular flops
From D.W. Griffiths’s 1916 epic Intolerance to Tom Hooper’s hilariously misjudged Cats, 26 films provide cautionary examples of mega-budget hubris
What on earth is Jaguar thinking?
Along with Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, Jaguar is, for most people, one of the great British blue chip motoring…
The Royal Family must be careful with Kate
If this year’s Remembrance Sunday was unusually affecting, it was in large part due to the presence of both the…
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Prince William
For all his wealth and privilege, it is hard to imagine wanting to be Prince William. Not only was he…
Is King Charles’s honeymoon over?
Since King Charles became monarch in September 2022, after the death of Elizabeth II, he has received reasonably warm treatment…
History has been cruel to Wallis Simpson
If there is one thing that Paul French’s forthcoming book Her Lotus Year should put right about Wallis Simpson, the…
King Charles’s carefully worded reparations speech
For his first formal address as head of the Commonwealth, King Charles would probably have preferred to veer away from…
Keir Starmer’s concerning decision to ditch Shakespeare’s portrait
Politicians are said to campaign in poetry and govern in prose. In the case of Keir Starmer, he campaigned in…
Princess Kate has shown why she is so vital to the royal family
The news that the Princess of Wales has been able to return to public-facing duties is both hugely welcome and,…
Boris never had a chance of convincing Prince Harry to stay
Strange though it might seem now, at the beginning of 2020 Boris Johnson came close to achieving his childhood ambition…
Morrissey’s martyrdom knows no bounds
Say what you like about Steven Patrick Morrissey – lead singer of The Smiths, the Mancunian miserabilist, ‘the Pope of…
The wickedness of Mohamed Al Fayed
The allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed are dreadful: the former Harrods owner has been accused of raping five women and…
Prince Andrew will struggle to recover from A Very Royal Scandal
Sensational dramas about the Duke of York are rather like London buses: you wait five years for one, and then…
There’s nothing cool about Starbucks
If you’ve ever visited Starbucks, you may enjoy the overpriced coffees or bewildering assortment of half-sweet, half-savoury drinks – espresso…
Is this the worst tribute so far to Queen Elizabeth II?
An official tribute to the late, much-missed Queen Elizabeth II will, in years to come, be unveiled in London’s St…
Has King Charles finally run out of patience with Prince Andrew?
While the nation basks in the good news about the Princess of Wales in her battle with cancer, the Royals’…
Kate’s message of hope is wonderful news for the Royals
The Royal Family has not had much to celebrate lately, so the relief that the world will feel with the…
