I could do better myself

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the Residence of the Canadian High Commissioner, Jim Wright and his wife Donna Thomson, for a reception to meet the Queen and Prince Philip in advance of their trip to Canada this summer (she’ll be in Ottawa for Canada Day). 

The whole evening was huge fun - loved every minute of it - and I got to meet several people I admire, including the designer Erdem, journalist Lyse Doucet, and anthropologist and film-maker, Hugh Brody. 

But the highlight of the evening was, of course, meeting Themselves.  When told I’d won the GG the Queen said ‘How nice. You must be pleased,’ and then moved along; Prince Philip, however, uttered the immortal words, ‘I don’t like novels.  I always think I could do better myself.’