I once knew someone who spent a year in a plaster cast recovering from an operation on his back. He read a lot, and thought a lot, and felt miserable.Later, he realised this time of forced retreat from the world had helped him to understand the world more clearly.We all need to get the balance right

Every year, this Christmas party is held for the children of the people living in the Mews of Buckingham Palace. Everyone seems to be enjoying it. Usually, we&#39re lucky with the weather, but tonight it seems a bit more like a typical English winter. The children have been waiting for the usual bui

Mr President,Prince Philip and I would like to thank you and Frau Schadt for the warm welcome you have given us at the start of our fifth State Visit to Germany. In the 50 years since our first visit, our countries have lived through many profound changes. I am very glad to record that one of the ir