her. Then I thought, Why on earth are you saying that? She’s beautiful.


…later that same day I went on an official visit to Hale House in Har- lem, which offers support to children and families in need. I noticed there were mirrors down near the skirting boards. When I asked why, Mother Hale, who founded the centre, said: “Because as soon as a child is born you must tell them they are beautiful. The mirrors help them see that it’s true.” In a strange way my own mother helped me to be a good parent to Beatrice and Eugenie simply because I’ve done everything totally differently from her. I broke a destructive pattern and fixed it. My girls have harmony within themselves.


…I was very competi- tive. I grew up riding, and our tack room was covered with my rosettes and cups. The first event I ever won was apple-bobbing. It was a miracle I came first because normally my pony would rush up to the bucket and then promptly roll on his back, preventing me from making a speedy exit to the finishing line.


…being miserable at boarding school and crying a lot. I was eight and we slept on antiquated beds in an old billiard room. I’d be taken out of the dormitory for talking and have to sit by myself on the stairs in the dark.


…I once entered a fancy dress competition at Windsor Horse Show dressed as a ginger nut. My mother’s idea, of course. She was friends with the head of Huntley & Palmers biscuits


…my mother telling me never to cut my long red hair. But one day, aged 12, I chopped it off. It was a memorable day. My mother walked straight past me into the drawing room, had a huge row with Dad, slammed the door and left us. She went to Argentina with Hector, my father’s best friend. I believed I was entirely to blame for the breakdown of


my parents’ marriage because I’d cut my hair. I’ve carried that misplaced


guilt all my life.


…my mother never came back to England, even though Dad had told her the door was always open for her return. He lived with such remorse. My sister Jane moved to Australia soon afterwards and got married aged 17. She still lives there.


Read more in the June issue of Reader’s Digest


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