The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held Excalibur aloft from the bosom of the water to signify by Divine Providence … Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll read that again.

The Queen of England formally knighted Terry Pratchett on Wednesday. He was named on her New Year Honours List, and this week Elizabeth ceremonially dubbed the kneeling Pratchett on each shoulder with her sword.