Laura Bourne

“Any variation from unbending rigidity may open the door to reform.”
― Norman Baker, … And What Do You Do?: What The Royal Family Don't Want You To Know

“Cavendish jolts up, riding knee-to-knee. ‘His reliquary!’ George is upset, astonished. ‘To part with it like this! It is a piece of the true Cross!’ ‘We'll get him another. I know a man in Pisa makes them ten for five florins and a round dozen for cash up front. And you get a certificate with St Peter's thumbprint, to say they're genuine.”
― Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall

“Thomas thinks, he was being unnecessarily Welsh.”
― Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall

“But then there is no doubt the royal family feel it important to maintain the hereditary principle as much as possible, for fear that people may begin to question the validity of the concept. It may also be part of the reason why the Queen has robustly knocked back any suggestion that she might abdicate in favour of her son, Prince Charles. Hereditary systems expect you to die in the position which you have inherited. Any suggestion that this can be played around with would inevitably make the concept as a whole look less inviolate than those who benefit from it would like.”
― Norman Baker, … And What Do You Do?: What The Royal Family Don't Want You To Know