An interesting history lesson this week. We’re all used to stories about the inbreeding of monarchies across early modern Europe. Austria’s Hapsburgs led the way, marrying family members off left, right and centre as a diplomatic strategy. Then Queen Victoria took things to new levels – her descendants ruled not just the UK, but Germany and Russia, as the 20th century dawned.

It’s easy to scoff at the inbreeding involved, but hold off.........

© The Guardian