The merit of a constitutional monarchy as distinct from a republic is that it insulates the Head of State from party politics. Depending on the monarch, furthermore, the opportunity exists for a symbolic demonstration of the virtues which that society admires. Queen Elizabeth II has set such an example by her single-minded dedication to the common good throughout her 67-year-long reign. At 93, surprisingly, she has one more lesson to teach – how to defuse a family feud which threatens to tear a family apart.

Two of her grandchildren, Princes William and Harry, were at odds over Harry’s decision, with his wife Meghan, to stand aside from royal duties and live an independent life, mainly in England and in Canada. The Princes’ mother, the late Princess Diana, once gave an interview in which she said there were “three people” in her marriage, by which she meant herself, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. She might as well have said four, as there is in every British royal marriage the intrusive presence of the press, alert to every whisper of scandal or dissent and competing to make the most of it. Their readers love to read about them – the “royals” make perfect “celebs”.