THE ROYALS, it seems, are taking the hint.

For after their damaging and blundering public relations errors in the wake of the death of Princess Diana, the decision by Prince Charles to drop moves to avoid the £8.4million inheritance tax bill on her estate is as shrewd as it might be financially painful for her children.

This is because whatever chances of success there might have been in legal steps by Prince Charles to reclaim his £17million divorce settlement to Diana, which enriched her estate to the extent that her sons now face this huge tax bill, there was a real danger that the action might backfire publicly.

The risk was that it may have been perceived as a self-interested tax dodge at the public's expense - and on the part of an already hugely-rich royal family.

Now, evidently sensing that danger and aware that royalty's fragile relationship with the public cannot afford more setbacks, a sensible decision has been reached.

It may have cost a lot of money but, wisely, a higher value has been put on heeding public sentiment.

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