The Queen and 'The King of the World'

In his first speech as Prime Minister, Mr Johnson sounded passionate and relatively statesmanlike. He declared that those people who have bet against the UK will be proven wrong.

He offered a positive outlook on a potential new relationship with the EU. He also admitted that Brussels might not want to respond in kind, thus setting off a no-deal scenario.

Whether the new Prime Minister has the political talent to weave together a cabinet capable of delivering Brexit, remains to be seen. Especially given the Conservatives' wafer-thin majority and a largely pro-Remain Parliament.

In his speech of thanks to Conservative members yesterday, Mr. Johnson spoke like the newspaper columnist he is. There were plenty of attention-grabbing headlines, much passionat arm-waving and a little bluster.

If that speech was anything to go by, his intention is to energise the country "in a spirit of can-do". But, say some of his many doubters, does he have the intellectual rigour and serlousness of purpose to match substance to his bluster?

It's true: optimism on its own will not be enough. Boris Johnson will be well aware of this fact. He may sometimes cross into the clownish to promote his grand schemes, but he is nobody's fool. Behind his often obscure references to classical literature lies a keen mind.

Nevertheless, many of his opponents have delighted in reminding him - and us - that optimism is not a strategy. That is true, but then neither is despair.

Optimism, at least, has a better chance of sparking or inspiring a strategy. Given a choice between an optimistic - but not naive - attempt to re-engage the EU and a defeatist, fatalistic throwing of our hands in the air, we need to opt for the former.

The Queen would never, of course, express her personal opinion on Brexit in public - and possibly not even to her first minister.

However, I can't help feeling that, at the very least, she might approve of Mr. Johnson's confident tone regarding Britain's future prospects.