Poor old Charlie – he hasn’t had much luck:  that is assuming you discount the chance of being born to be king.

And now he’s gone down with the lurgy.    Aged 71 and fit, he should recover.   But if ever there was a man blighted by cherry brandy, it is he.

Prince Charles has been set upon by the tabloid press pretty much all his life.   In many respects, and often with good  humour and astonishing tolerance,   he has proved them wrong: he has tried to hold minsters to account (the press call them his “black spider letters); he has stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature (the press says he “talks to trees”) and he has stood up for traditional buildings and values (the press calls him “out of touch”).

Now, at last, in sickness as never in health, he is showing himself to be a man of the people.  Long life to him.