Following in my heroine’s footsteps, here I am in Saumur, in her favourite Château which has barely changed since she lived here.

Apart from those who live in the area, very few have ever heard of Dampierre-sur-Loire, yet this is where one of the most astonishing Queens of England ended her days.

I became familiar with Château Saumur, or at least its image, in college many, many years ago (1972) while training to be an art teacher.