Diary – 7 October 2006

I embarked upon my new book, On Royalty, because, as a republican, I was genuinely baffled by the devotion monarchies seem to inspire. Yet the more I looked into it, the less there seemed to be to the republican cause: monarchy may be antique and democratically indefensible, but it becomes hard to see what would be gained by destroying it. What I had failed properly to clock, though, is the extent of personal dislike for Prince Charles. The Great Boiled Egg Controversy â” a matter which occupies an entire three sentences of the book, and which I described as ‘so preposterously extravagant as to be unbelievable’ â” only took off because it seemed to fit preconceptions that he is spoilt and peevish. When the Daily Mail sent someone to interview me her main interest (apart from such cutting-edge questions as ‘Do you dream about the Queen in black underwear?’) was in whether Prince Charles was fit to be king.