HRH gets egg on his face

By: Catherine Sleep - 27 September 2006 12:27

Aides to our esteemed heir to the throne, HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, took the unusual step of denying press reports about their employer this weekend. News presenter Jeremy Paxman claims in his new book about the future monarch that he is served not one, not two, but seven boiled eggs, ranging from runny to well cooked, so that he can choose one exactly to his liking. If the third one out of the pan is too soft, presumably HRH knocks the top off the one that came out thirty seconds later. Or more likely his butler does it for him.

Much is being made of this little habit by the international press, to the point where Charles’ aides spoke out to deny it. But is it really such a big deal? I think if you had unlimited cash and staff to wait on you, it would be quite easy to develop little foibles like this. It’s harmless – and if Charles has inherited his mother's oft-mentioned parsimony, the remaining eggs will doubtless be recycled in egg sandwiches or a nice niçoise salad for the staff lunch.

Prince Charles' aides dip into boiled egg story