We’re starting to get pre-Christmas publication of books that would make ideal gifts, or, as we say here in the UK, stocking fillers (don’t ask).

Corgi and Bess — More Wit and Wisdom from the House of Windsor contains a goodly selection of amusing Royal anecdotes collected by Thomas Blaikie, whose previous book was, You Look Awfully Like the Queen.

The work is a smile-a-minute romp through Royal life and engagements with the Queen usually bearing up under trying circumstances and other members of her family behaving according to character. If you enjoy Royal gossip — and why wouldn’t you if you visit this site — you’ll like this book.

It’s a simple format, anecdotes grouped under chapter titles, like, “Family Rivalry — Who is the Loveliest of Them All?” and “Royal to the Core”.

The hard cover version, published by 4th Estate, is compact and fits easily in the pocket for reference on train journeys or similar excursions.

Here are two extracts to give a flavour of the book :

“At Eton Prince William came across a fellow-pupil throwing stones at a swan. ‘Stop that you ginga [ginger] bastard! he cried. ‘Those are my granny’s swans.’ [In England all swans are owned by the Queen].”

“Kenneth Clark, Lord Clark of Civilisation, found himself being frog-marched into being Surveyor of the King’s Pictures by George V.

‘Come and work for me,’ he barked.
‘I wouldn’t have time to do the job properly.’
‘What is there to do?’
‘Well, Sir, the pictures need looking after.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with them.’
‘But people write letters asking about them.’
‘Don’t answer them.’ ”