For three years I was lucky enough to be leader of a small Sunday School at All Hallows by the Tower( also known as All Hallows Barking,because of its connections with the Abbey at Barking before the Tower of London was built). Some of the children lived within the walls of the Tower,because their fathers were warders there(dont call them beefeaters!).

The smallest of the children was Megan. She was almost five and had used all her powers of persuasion to be allowed to join the group. One Sunday she actually RAN into the church and told me,breathlessly, that the Queen had visited the Tower the day before.

"She came right by me ,and I spoke to her!"

"Oh, lovely! What did you say?"

"I asked her why she wasn't wearing her crown".

"What did she say?"

"She said,'Because you lot have got it locked up over there!' "

With all my heart I hope that is word for word what was said!!!