And now, from the "And you didn't put a lock on your journal BECAUSE...?" files and Yahoo! News...

Sudiegirl sez: I remember all the hoop-la about Charles and Diana getting married, and their subsequent divorce, and how lots of folks said "I told you so" because they were so different. Wow. This is quite interesting indeed...so I'll do what I do. In addition to USA Today's article (which was surprisingly short, at least online), I also included an editorial from CBS News...if you click on the highlighted phrase, it will (or SHOULD) take you to the CBS website so you can view the piece in its entirety. I will now do what I do best...make snotty comments.


Prince Charles takes legal action over private journal

LONDON (AP) — Prince Charles is taking legal action against a newspaper that published details from his private journals, his office said Friday. (Apparently, they don't believe in locking up the darned thing, or writing it with invisible ink?)

Charles is taking action against Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Mail on Sunday, which printed details of the prince's view of the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. One comment described Chinese diplomats as "appalling old waxworks." (Well...nothing like brutal honesty from His Majesty, is there?)

There was no immediate comment from the newspaper. (Ya know why? They were laughing and agreeing with him, maybe?)

"The Prince of Wales' office has been advised by lawyers that the Mail on Sunday has breached both the Prince of Wales' copyright and confidentiality," a statement said (Wait a minute...I see where confidentiality comes in, but copyright? Unless they're looking at getting paid for the stolen journal entries, does that come into play?)

Sir Michael Peat, Charles's principal private secretary, said the journal had been copied without the prince's permission and passed to the newspaper. (I just want to know who did it, and if they hot-footed it out of there after they were done and took a job somewhere else?)

"We have made this clear to the Mail on Sunday on five occasions, both orally and in writing," Peat said. (Well, apparently they aren't very good listeners and readers, are they? Thank goodness I could glean the meaning out of that quote, because I wasn't sure at first if Peat said they talked to the Mail five times on Sunday, or five separate occasions. Does that quote read the same way to you?)

"Nevertheless, the Mail on Sunday proceeded to publish these extracts despite the knowledge that it was a breach of the Prince of Wales' copyright and confidence." (Yeah, I'd probably be pretty honked off myself, but come on...they're a newspaper...if they want to print something that you can bet your butt they will. I'm not picking on newspapers per se; I'm just stating a fact.)


And from CBS News…

Now the Prince has always been in a bit of a bind. (Well, he needs to get a bigger size of bozers, then. Or is he a BVD man?)

He's the King in waiting, waiting behind an extremely popular, long living and very diplomatic mother. (Just ask Queen Liz's spouse...) And he's spent most of his life searching for a role. (Has he thought of community theater?)

Trying to find something to do that's really useful in a society that doesn't really want the Royal family to do anything at all. (Except for the women to wear funny hats that look like they might take flight any minute...)

And certainly doesn't want them causing trouble and getting involved in politics. (God forbid.)

But the Prince has become increasingly angry with what he sees as being wrong with the world and increasingly eager to make his opinions known. And now his enthusiasm has rebounded on him. (And really, that is a shame. I am just a damned Yank and don't know much about British politics, but it seems like he wants to earn his place and he's not supposed to. I'm sure I'm totally off the mark and a reader should please advise me on what is correct, but I still say this: What a strange way to live.)

Because this week, the heir to the British throne is involved in a legal battle in London's High Court, trying to prevent a national newspaper publishing extracts from his private journal. (Again, does anyone know how the paper got a hold of this thing?)

Now, the journal is interesting because the Prince is pretty uncomplimentary about some of the world leaders he's met.

He likened the Chinese leadership to a bunch of waxworks. He complained of being forced to travel Business Class on British Airways as all the First Class seats were taken. He lamented that politicians never learn and are always in a hurry. (Here's a sample entry of how it would be if he met ME..."My God! Does she ever shut the bloody hell up?")

But all this was meant for his eyes and the eyes of his friends only. And why shouldn't he write confidentially to his pals? This court case has been fascinating because it's become apparent that the Prince takes his rather vague public role very seriously indeed and makes a business of stepping outside the Royal family's job description. (I can't say as I blame him...he never seemed to me to be a person content with just sitting and waving at crowds. I don't blame him one bit. The only thing I blame him for is not putting a lock on his drawer at the office.)

What emerges is a Prince who has a view on almost everything and isn't slow in making those views known, in a country where the Royals are constitutionally bound to be above politics. (Well, then what the heck are they supposed to DO, anyway?)

He's against GM foods, against a good deal of modern architecture and against nanotechnology. (What's GM food? Is that what Buicks eat?)

He's in favour of organic food and farming, healthy hospital design and homeopathic medicine. All things that many of us would probably agree with. A former aide described Prince Charles as seeing himself as a bit of a dissident working against the political tide and using the press to help him. (Nah...I don't buy it...too easy.)

A dissident? That's a step too far.

Charles is angry, there's no doubt about that. He's fit to be tied. But is he fit to be King? (Maybe not...and maybe he doesn't want anyone to be King...maybe he wants something different? And would that be so bad?)