Some inquest
We were flying back overnight from a family holiday in the United States when the American pilot broke into our nocturnal slumbers. He told us that the Princess of Wales and a companion had been injured in a car crash in Paris. Of course the seriousness of the situation at that moment was not apparent.
The Princess of Wales once came to the hospice in Bury St Edmunds. Her ability to touch the hearts of the very sick patients was extraordinary; it was truly uplifting for them. It was the one occasion when I met her.
My own mother told me once of overhearing a conversation between my grandparents of a very intimate nature. It was basically about having children (there were four already) and all that that entailed in those days. It was an insight into their marriage which she did not wish to hear, and indeed, in turn, nor did I.
Of course we have to be realistic about our parents, warts and all, as our children are about us. However my heart goes out to the Royal princes; the sheer ghastliness of the inquest must be deeply deeply distressing to them.
If the inquest was going to happen at all, it should have happened a long time ago. Undoubtedly it will prove very little but leave behind a thoroughly unpleasant memory for them.