Royal institutions: for better, for worse

My granny had a picture of the Queen in her kitchen. My granny scowled at me as I recounted my story of spending my commemorative jubilee coin on sweets, and her gnarled knuckles whitened as I suggested the monarchy be abolished. On the day of the wedding of Charles and Diana I remember the sweltering heat, the waft of warm sherry, and the fact there was nothing else on the telly. I didn’t believe in fairytale weddings either. However, like most men I was persuaded to marry and …