Charivaria

The Guardian is in quirky mode this morning. I do not propose to dwell upon the subject of singing mice; nor could I possibly comment on the iniquity of denying Bavarian thigh-slappers adequate time to exhibit their dancing at the World Cup next year. And I can quite do without the potty obsessions of the AA with regard to monitoring their employees' toilet breaks. But the wonderful Marina Hyde is on top form as usual (here):

"It is most distressing to learn that Prince Charles is beset by gloom as he begins his eight-day tour of the US today. Much in the manner of a former boy-band star struggling to become a solo artist, Charles is upset that people do not take him seriously.
"It's very easy to dismiss anything I say," he fretted to a CBS interviewer this weekend. "It's difficult."
Mm. It's always so hard to know what to say in these situations, isn't it? Ever since Hapsburg interbreeding caused one chap's lower jaw to make make contact with his nose, "chin up" has been an outlawed expression in royal circles...
Last week, one US comedian heralded the future king's visit with the words "star of first celebrity sex tape to hit town". (I know, it's so unfair. One Tampax fantasy, and people still can't move on.) Still, Charles is reminded that even the genuinely talented are not immune to having their skills skewed. When John Gielgud passed away, the Daily Star headline read: "Butler in Arthur dies."
His Royal Highness is urged to stay strong."

Indeed. It could be worse - he might have been a Jambo.