EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Rishi briefing the King contrasts with Ted Heath
Rishi’s pre-briefing of the King about his General Election plans contrasts with Ted Heath in 1974, who called a snap election when the Queen was 11,500 miles away in New Zealand.
Rules governing the powers of counsellors of state mean they cannot prorogue and dissolve parliament nor summon an election.
Her Majesty had to issue urgent Letters Patent allowing her counsellors, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, to do just that and then cut short her visit and return to London.
Prince Philip carried on in her stead. She was most unamused.
Rishi’s pre-briefing of the King about his General Election plans contrasts with Ted Heath in 1974 (pictured), who called a snap election when the Queen was 11,500 miles away in New Zealand
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a statement announcing an election outside 10 Downing Street
Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Edward Heath at Heathrow Airport in January 1974
While the King and Queen arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show in their limo, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester took their seats in an air-conditioned charabanc, provided by the Royal Mews.
That would have incensed Prince Andrew. The late Queen once tried to limit the number of royals in carriages and cars at ceremonial events and invested in mini buses.
After suffering the indignity of roughing it with other ranks, Andrew complained to his mother.
She pandered to his pride. One suspects that nowadays he might struggle to get the job of following-on with a bucket and shovel.
The King and Queen looked delighted to be back in action as they visited the Chelsea Flower Show
Apropos Edward getting tips on wearing a 2lb bearskin on horseback for Trooping the Colour from brother Andrew: Prince Philip remembered wandering the palace grounds trying to find his future father-in-law when he heard a lot of swearing coming from the rhododendron bushes.
Suddenly, George VI emerged in gardening clobber and a bearskin hat.
He was battling the shrubs and rehearsing for the Trooping at the same time.
Grenadier Guards wearing their bearskin hats during the Trooping the Colour
Nigella Lawson, currently seeking Britain’s best beekeeper, outs herself as a bee geek.
‘Did you know about the tradition of talking to the bees and telling them everything that is going on in your life?’ she asks.
‘I believe it is Celtic. Apparently you tell them your sorrows and your joys, and that’s meant to be a bonding thing.’
The Domestic Goddess is definitely getting a buzz from the bees.
Nigella Lawson, currently seeking Britain’s best beekeeper, outs herself as a bee geek
Broadcast veteran Peter Snow, recalling his Swingometer days on Newsnight, remembers former director-general Greg Dyke asking: ‘How is the Swingometer going?’
I said: ‘Well, actually not very well, we need about £250,000, Greg, if that’s possible?’
He replied: ‘It’s done, you can have it.’
And how does Snow think the Swingometer will help Rishi with his surprise election? ‘He’s bonkers to call it, he’s going to lose it.
‘He could have hung on for another six months.’
Peter Snow stands by the Swingometer on the set of BBC election studio in 1997
