It follows that if you are not a mother you are not a grandmother. Your life has become unpunctuated, whereas the lives of other women around you have these distinct phases.

I will get into trouble, I am sure, because since my Kate Middleton speech and before, certain papers were after me. I am not saying, however, that it would have been moral or right to assassinate Mrs. [Margaret] Thatcher, but I know it will be read that way. I know it will cause a problem.

I think if the monarchy were removed tomorrow, it wouldn't have a huge effect on the national mind-set.

[Margaret Thatcher] was always talking about what the prudent housewife should do and what the prudent housewife knew.

I would have been a disaster as a career politician. I would never have toed a party line.

Fear of commitment lies behind the fear of writing.

People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.