I’m sure the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are enjoying themselves in New Zealand.

So far they’ve been sailing, played cricket, been on a speedboat and taken Prince George to what must be the most exclusive playgroup in the Antipodes. An ardent royalist, I’ve been watching the coverage you see.

Which brings me to what I’ve been up to this week.

This week I have visited the newly refurbished Colchester Castle – one wonders how we paid for anything before the lottery – and my plain speaking photographer friend Lucy and I visited Tiptree to have a closer look at the jam people Wilkin and Son Ltd.

We motored deep into North Essex to look at the cherry blossom – it is looking its best right now - and to find out how jam is made.

I have to admit we had a lovely time.

Not only were we made very welcome but we enjoyed the smell of all the fruit as it went through the process. In fact I’m not sure the smell of limes being crushed isn’t still lingering in my nostrils.

I noticed during our tour of the famous factory that the Queen herself has been along to have a nose as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations.

I remember once David Cameron coming into the newsroom which was exciting enough but the Queen must be a whole new level of exhilaration.

I sometimes think that journalism isn’t that far removed from Her Majesty’s walk of life.

Often Lucy and I will turn up and be shown things that people want us to see, we too ask a few questions and leave on time before our next engagement – usually a cheese scone or the occasional quiche and salad – Lucy’s vegetarian so she tends to have to swap ham for goat’s cheese where applicable.

But perhaps that’s where the analogy ends.

Unlike me the Queen doesn’t have to make notes, try to read back her shorthand, get told what to do by Lucy, or, in the case of Tiptree, I spotted, wear a most unflattering hair net.

She also has the advantage of outriders – the last time I got blue lighted was because I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt not because I didn’t have a numberplate.

Nonetheless, Tiptree was a real highlight of the week for Lucy and me.

Indeed, what with a café, gift shop and little museum attached, we both agreed that it is the sort of place we could take our mothers – well, if it’s good enough for the Queen...