Heather Leather is a repressed nonentity until the alcoholic Andrew, the primitive Grotman (alias the aristocratic St Clair), the schizophrenic Greta (alias the aristocratic Mrs St Clair) and a physically advanced oak tree (alias the Sentinel) enter her life. The novel charts Heather's progress from servant to court adviser, MP, and finally Prime Minister, where she has to deal with the extreme generosity of the Americans, who are determined to keep on lending money to countries who cannot pay it back but who also suffer from a peculiar tree phobia (i.e. trees are taking over the planet and especially golf courses). Faxes accumulate. Heather Leather also discovers her own Royal Family at Redelande, an isolated and strange corner of England, where the Sentinel is used to control events. A form of independence is declared, valiantly supported by the members of KTRHOTMLUS (Keep the Royals Happy or They Might Leave Us Society). Hitherto, these gallant ladies had raised money for the Windsors via coffee mornings and tax evasions. However, the charms of Prince St Clair and his jelly factory are too strong and the members of KTRHOTMLUS, after years of loyal service, abandon the House of Windsor. The Americans have to decide whether to support the new order, to bring about its end or whether to have a Royal Family of their own. This latter proposition engages the interests of a major American criminal organisation who see the Royal concept as a way into a legitimate and lucrative business.