Queen 'plans to withhold granting Tony Blair a Royal honour'

Blair was in line to be appointed to the Order of the Thistle, the highest Scottish honour. But his reference to personal and private revelations in his autobiography, 'A Journey', are thought to have deeply disappointed the British Monarch and she may withhold granting him the honour, the 'Sunday Express' quoted royal insiders.

The 84-year-old Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, said she was sure that the monarch would be "disappointed" at Blair's decision to breach Royal protocol by revealing some personal conversations in Buckingham Palace.

Renowned Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said: "I wouldn't be at all surprised if his chances of being awarded the Order of the Thistle have floated to 100 to one because of his cocky references."

In Royal circles, it was felt the sections that reopened old wounds, particularly the tragedy of Princess Diana's death, were "beyond the pale". One Royal insider said: "It is a well-known convention that details of private conversations between the Royal Family and the PM stay private."

Another added: "The Order of the Thistle is a reward for chivalry and a gift for her to make or not make. Why should she?" Vickers said: "This is about Blair trying to sell this book while revealing himself to be the gauche person he is. So the Queen handled some plates after a barbecue. So what? She's human. You know when the Queen respects a Prime Minster. She awarded Margaret Thatcher the Order of Merit as soon as she left office.