His Edymandias EdStone moment may have been one of the most ill-conceived political stunts of all time: fortunately the monarchy came to the rescue with the timely arrival of the royal baby to fill the news pages instead.
Iranian media affiliated to the Islamic regime have been accused of using library images from different times and locations in Britain and other parts of the world to portray the UK riots as "the uprising of the oppressed against the British monarchy".
It's strange that the French live in a republic and we have a monarchy but we are far less hierarchical.
I think there is general agreement among the political leaders that they should, between them, agree what is going to happen and not bring the monarchy into political controversy".
A long leader, Memos put an end to the ludicrous idea that Britain's monarchy is politically neutral, made out a reasonable case for disclosure.
No senior politician has the courage to question the continuation of the monarchy.
In Tim Pigott-Smith's superb performance, he became a man who seemed uneasy in his own skin, apprehensive about the burden of monarchy and yet deeply and steadfastly principled.
At the same time, it posed serious, still-to-be-answered questions about the future of the monarchy and the extent to which its survival depends on the benign neutrality of its incumbent.
Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, highlighted the significance of the monarchy when he moved on Sunday to reassure traditionalists when he said the "Queen and her successors" would remain as head of state in an independent Scotland.
He reads histories of the British monarchy, enjoys poetry and cricket, looks forward to family holidays overseas and to, one day, taking decisions that can change millions of lives.
"It was a real honour to be awarded something like that from outside the sport, by the monarchy.
