My Mail on Sunday column on the death of Her Majesty

When we were children, my brother and I loved to play with my father���s sword. The fact that my mother was quite unworried by this tells you a lot about the world we then lived in. It was a real weapon, made by Messrs Wilkinson, with a beautiful patterned blade and a very sharp point. But the thing which fascinated me about it most was the hilt, several ridges of rough grey sharkskin. This, my father told us, was because it would give you a firm grip even if it was covered in blood. 

 

Now, t...