The Queen’s heartfelt response to the allegations of racism from her grandson and his wife is a delicate attempt to deal privately with a bruising public row.
Buckingham Palace, to avoid suspicion the toxic rift will be brushed under the carpet, must demonstrate by deeds as well as words that the monarchy represents all of Britain.
This division with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaking the foundations of a much-respected institution and tarnishing Britain’s reputation around the world.
The Queen’s expression of love for troubled Harry and Meghan is the natural instinct of a grandparent, a rare public display of emotion from a monarch devoted to public duty.
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Judging whether the family has truly healed will not be easy but one test may be the attendance or otherwise of the Duke and Duchess at important family occasions, starting with the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday in June.
Many families suffer terrible quarrels but few are played out on worldwide TV.
Both sides need to reach out to find reconciliation.
Hold our nerve
Experts warning that easing the lockdown too quickly would trigger a fresh wave of coronavirus is why data must trump dates if there is any serious risk.
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, is right that losing the most vulnerable and people yet to be vaccinated would be a terrible blow when we are so near to suppressing this terrible disease.
Rushing ahead of the rules, as a group of Right-wing Conservative MPs noisily demand, would be a foolhardy, lethal mistake.
When we’ve taken nearly a year of deaths and ruined livelihoods to get to this point, throwing it all away would be utterly stupid.
Round figures
Domino's red-hot profits from a larger pizza the action during lockdown gave the company a huge slice of dough.
But as staying in is the new going out, the nation’s waistlines are expanding just as fast.
