Royal family
A royal baby reminds us why the monarchy matters
Strictly in terms of its implications for the succession, the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son this…
How the cult of victimhood took hold of the royal family
Over the centuries, the British royal family have been many things: conquerors, vanquishers, tyrants and buffoons. They have been denied…
Watch Paxo set a new PB for lip-curling: Paxman On The Queen’s Children reviewed
You might well expect a royal documentary on Channel 5 to be unashamedly gossipy. You might also expect it to…
Poking fun at the royals is good for the monarchy
Isn’t Meghan fabulous? Hasn’t she totally brought the monarchy into the 21st century? Doesn’t she make Kate look like such…
Harry, Meghan and the irresistible rise of the glamocracy
The world may be dazzled by Prince Harry marrying a divorced, mixed-race American TV star. But his grand friends and…
Meghan Markle ticks almost every modern box. Let’s not pretend she’s a tough sell
We are congratulating ourselves and the royal family on overcoming prejudice by welcoming Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry. But…
Is a Princess Meghan really such good news?
‘The thing is,’ said my friend, after the broadcast of the engagement interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, ‘you…
Thanks to Diana, the royals are done for
We are approaching an important royal anniversary, which I trust will be marked with a display of the appropriate reverence…
Diana the diva
Twenty years in August since Diana died. The anniversary is sad for me on many levels — she was definitely…
The Spectator’s Notes
For some time now, banks have wielded hamfistedly the concept of the ‘politically exposed person’. They have withdrawn bank accounts…
Diary
The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations start this week with the real thing and barely stop until her official birthday in…
How to save the monarchy
The Prince of Wales has become a threat to the institution he ought to uphold. He should renounce the throne in advance
Low life
Roy was a superb mechanic, a methodical master of his trade. For an hour I respectfully watched him work to…
The secret brilliance of Prince Philip’s ‘gaffes’
I’ve just been on the receiving end of a Prince Philip gaffe, of sorts, and I loved it. It was…
N.M. Gwynne’s diary: Old names worth dropping
As I get older (and my 74th birthday is now close), I get deeper and deeper into nostalgia. I do…
All those boardroom codes still can’t catch rogues and incompetents
Sir Adrian Cadbury, who has died aged 86, is remembered as the author in 1992 of a first stab at…
Long life
I wrote last week about a swarm of bees that had attached itself to a wall of my house, as…
Charlotte
It could have been much worse. Someone had pointed out that among the new baby’s ancestors was Queen Violant of…
Palace Notebook
The day of my investiture at Buckingham Palace dawned bringing freezing rain and fierce winds, which lashed at the windows…
Barometer
Royally paid Staff at Windsor Castle were balloted in strike action over pay. What can you earn in the royal…
Barometer
Deadly to dogs An Irish setter was allegedly poisoned at Crufts, using beef containing slug pellets. Some other substances with which dog-show rivals…
Barometer
Teen queens The Duke of York denied allegations in court papers that he had had sexual relations with a girl…
Barometer
A fatal shot The sad death of Australian batsman Philip Hughes was a reminder that a cricket ball can kill.…
Diary
Having dampened local republican ardour during their recent tour of New Zealand and Australia, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge…
Diary
When visiting Britain and Australia last November, I discovered that the mayor of Toronto, Robert Ford, is now the world’s…
