News out of Buckingham Palace means that we have even longer still to wait to finally see the Prince and Princess of Wales Down Under.
In a year that has seen more history made in a matter of months than has been in some decades, it is notable just how dusty the Waleses’ British Airways Club Cards have become.
Or, more simply, Prince Louis will probably be practising for his L’s in one of Great Grandpa Philip’s old Land Rovers before we see the prince and princess in Australia.are showing about as much interest in visiting us as they are in taking up professional breakdancing, which is to say, none.Right now the Commonwealth, as the late Queen knew it, would seem to be just hanging on, like that one mustard suit that Princess Anne has been religiously trotting out since 1980.
Except, that all that pep has not extended to their relationship with us, the far flung outposts of the Commonwealth.Earlier this year William came in for a rightful drubbing for deciding to prioritise his annual seven-week holiday over actually turning up toin the World Cup final being held in a country of which he will one day be Head of State. On the same tour, in the Pan Bari agricultural village in Kaziranga National Park.
If the prince and princess don’t pull their finger out on the Commonwealth front, then by the time they have matching thrones, the land over which King William V presides will be so reduced he will be able to fly from one end to another in under an hour. And with time left over to enjoy an egg and cress sandwich.
Also, technically, the royal family undertakes diplomatic visits at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. But again, if William and Kate pitched up at the FCO’s door and said they wanted to pop down this way to gladhand Australians, strengthen ties and finally see a platypus, would they really face any opposition?