An Irish royal welcome

Winning the Derby continues to elude Her Majesty so will her trip to the National Stud ensure a winner, asks Margaret Carragher

THE quip that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth thinks the world smells of fresh paint might be corny, but it’s bang on the money.

Certainly the prospect of entertaining a head of state — particularly one of the stature and gravitas of the queenj — would propel even the most laid back host or hostess into a frenzy of painting and decorating.