Abstract
Dear Madam,
In September 1951 a unique surgical operation took place in a drawing room at Buckingham Palace. Clement Price-Thomas was the surgeon and the patient was His Majesty King George The Sixth. No mention was made of cancer, only that there were “structural changes”. The King survived the operation but it did not save his life. Russell Brock had thought the condition was inoperable.
During the 20th century at least four British mon-archs developed tobacco-related diseases. In the Armed forces Eisenhower smoked incessantly. His deputy Tedder smoked a pipe. General Montgomery was a non-smoker teetotaller! Adolf Hitler did not smoke! Ordinary soldiers, sailors and airman were encouraged to smoke and many became addicted to nicotine - a powerful analgesic and stimulant in wartime.
In 1956 Bradford Hill and Richard Doll showed conclusively that the inhalation of tobacco smoke was related to cardio-respiratory disease. No serious attention was paid to this serious work. The politicians got the tax and the tobacco industry was in denial. So farcical and so British.
The Blair Government took action to its great credit and made smoking indoors unlawful which affected the pub trade. However many people in restaurants, in the theatre or in the cinema were grateful. Hardened addicts now smoke in the street even in the pouring rain to give immediate relief to their withdrawal symptoms. No surprise there.
Thanks to the excellent example set by the Duke of Edinburgh many years ago the present Royal Family is free from ill-effects of tobacco.
Long may it continue on that path.