“Divorced-beheaded-died, divorced-beheaded-survived.” That was how we were taught to memorize the fates of Henry VIII’s six wives back in school. (It’s not quite right: the marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled, not dissolved, but I guess our schoolmasters just wanted us to get the main idea.)

Say what you like about the monarchical principle, but it makes school history lessons interesting. Even back in the innocent 1950s, we all knew who the gay kings were. They were the ones our textbook described as having “favorites.” Lots of sniggering in the back row when that came up. With all respect to Republicanism and my adopted country, the Presidency has been a dull show by comparison.