The empire strikes sparks
The minute Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stepped out of their British Airways TriStar at New Delhi's Palam airport, they were greeted by marching bands, a 21-gun salute and officers arrayed in spotless finery. As a Mercedes six-door limousine ferried the royal visitors through the chrysanthemum-lined streets, welcoming banners fluttered before them and wizened shopkeepers craned their necks to wave at perhaps the world's richest woman. On the last leg of an 18-day, three-nation swing through Africa and Asia, the Queen made it clear that royalty can still command loyalty.
On this occasion, Her Majesty was...