Not much sooner had I written this condemnation of Buckingham Palace's decision to invite Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, to a tea party, than this press release was fired off by the race-obsessed party:

The crazed opponents of the British National Party should take a step backwards and enjoy a lesson in how democracy works, Nick Griffin MEP has said in response to hysteria from the far left over his invitation to Buckingham Palace.

"This is how democracy operates," Mr Griffin said. "It is a fine old tradition in this country and I have every intention of taking part in a non-political event which in many ways symbolises the greatness, heritage and tradition of our country.

"It is my democratically elected right to attend. I will be there with my wife and two of my children and am not going to grandstand or make political points," Mr Griffin said.

"As many will recall, I was last year prevented from attending a similar function as the guest of London Assembly Member Richard Barnbrook.

"This year, however, thanks to the voters of the North West of England, I am able to attend in my own right.

"It is not a political event and it is nothing less than disgraceful that the BNP's opponents are seeking to turn it into one.

"It is about time these crazed opponents of the BNP take a lesson in democracy. The BNP has elected representatives, gained nearly a million votes in the 2009 Euro elections and well over half a million in the 2010 general election, despite only fighting half the total number of seats.

"By any measure, this is a significant vote and the BNP is a now a permanent fixture on Britain's political map. The party's opponents better get used to it, because we are not going away," Mr Griffin said.

But if it is unsurprising that Griffin is determined to attend, more shocking is that defenders of the Queen are justifying the move. Here is James Whitaker, a sort of courtier-cum-journalist for the Mirror:

When there was an attempt last year to rail-road Mr Griffin into a Buckingham Palace tea party he was viciously attacked and then withdrew.

He was not stopped by the Queen, but by others who wrongly thought they were acting in her best interests. Her Majesty has now graciously put matters right.

Charming.