We had a traditional Christmas. The pilot light went out in the boiler. My mother was bad-tempered. The giblets made the dog sick. Sheffield Wednesday lost. But one unexpected incident shone more brightly than the star in the east. Princess Anne's behaviour immediately after she had celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace made it the most memorable season of goodwill for years. I offer her royal highness my humble congratulations and hope it is not lese-majeste on my part to add: "Keep it up, Ma'am. Keep it up." Endpiece readers may not be familiar with what happened outside Sandringham Church - and may find the details of the story difficult to believe even when they hear them. But they were reported in the tabloid newspapers and are therefore beyond dispute. A 75-year-old lady called Mrs Halfpenny made a basket - plaiting the wicker with her own hands - and filled it with flowers. 
