HAVING only a bunch of meretricious and shallow film stars to act as its aristocrats, it is easy to understand why, with such a barren heritage, America puts out the red carpet for visiting genuine blue-bloods.

Nonetheless, is not our own dear Prince Edward stooping low and dragging the Royal Family down further still by taking himself over there to make six personal appearances, lecturing the Yanks on the restoration of Windsor Castle - and pocketing £200,000 for a week's work in the process?

True, he's billing himself as plain Edward Windsor - though his corporate sponsors are playing up his royalty for all it's worth in order to impress their customers. And the money he is earning is going to Edward's (loss-making) TV production company. But, all the same, is not the Prince prostituting the privilege he enjoys - that of being the Queen's son?

And, after all, would well-heeled social-climbing Yanks turn out to hear an Ordinary Joe spout about Windsor Castle and would a non-royal speaker rake in the equivalent of a small pools win for a week on the lecture circuit?

Methinks not. It may be that Edward, with a his bride-to-be and a new house to support soon, and having been kicked off the Civil List in 1993 - though he is bunged £96,000 a year by Mummy who's still on it - needs the dosh. But this is not earning himself a living - or respect. He is merely hawking the status to which he was born.

Doesn't it make you want to spit?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.