The Duke of Edinburgh and Radio 3

[Guest]

One of the endless clips of the Duke of Edinburgh being shown and reshown today on the television news channels shows him being presented with a pair of headphones and asking whether "these things can still get Radio 3". This, the sycophantic commentator tells us, is "an example of his sparkling wit". That's a matter of opinion, but I did find myself asking whether the DofE is a R3 listener - surely not! He does not come from a family noted for its cultural interests.

Anyone got any evidence?

[Flosshilde]

No idea about his radio listening habits, but it sounds as if they were indulging in a bit of premature hagiography.

[Mr Pee]

One of the endless clips of the Duke of Edinburgh being shown and reshown today on the television news channels shows him being presented with a pair of headphones and asking whether "these things can still get Radio 3". This, the sycophantic commentator tells us, is "an example of his sparkling wit". That's a matter of opinion, but I did find myself asking whether the DofE is a R3 listener - surely not! He does not come from a family noted for its cultural interests.

Anyone got any evidence?

I happen to know the Duke of Edinburgh extremely well, having been introduced after he accidentally mistook me for a grouse as I was cycling through Windsor Great Park a few years ago. Phil- as I like to call him- often takes up position in the Great Tower with a Sniper Rifle and takes pot shots at the local wildlife. Alas, his eyesight is not what it used to be.

He is a keen listener to Radio 3, although he's not a fan of the recent attempts to make it more accessible, often remarking that it sounds as though the station's been taken over by "that bloody Diana woman." His favourite presenter is Sean Rafferty, mainly because HRH finds his accent quite hilarious.

It certainly isn't the same at Sandringham this Christmas Eve with Phil in hospital, but I'm sure we'll make the best of it.

Anyway, I must dash, Pippa has just asked me to accompany her to the Orangery for a spot of rumpy-pumpy.

Merry Christmas!!

[VodkaDilc]

I happen to know the Duke of Edinburgh extremely well, having been introduced after he accidentally mistook me for a grouse as I was cycling through Windsor Great Park a few years ago. Phil- as I like to call him- often takes up position in the Great Tower with a Sniper Rifle and takes pot shots at the local wildlife. Alas, his eyesight is not what it used to be.

He is a keen listener to Radio 3, although he's not a fan of the recent attempts to make it more accessible, often remarking that it sounds as though the station's been taken over by "that bloody Diana woman." His favourite presenter is Sean Rafferty, mainly because HRH finds his accent quite hilarious.

It certainly isn't the same at Sandringham this Christmas Eve with Phil in hospital, but I'm sure we'll make the best of it.

Anyway, I must dash, Pippa has just asked me to accompany her to the Orangery for a spot of rumpy-pumpy.

Merry Christmas!!

I will look forward to your contributions in the New Year, Mr Pee - assuming that there is internet access in the Tower!

[John Wright]

He does not come from a family noted for its cultural interests.

Anyone got any evidence?

Well, I recall a young Prince Charles in a docu, astride a cello. Actually I can't remember seeing him play it but he did twang a string and it struck his little brother's ear! Anyone else remember that docu?

and there is more on the cello here,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/7647290/Surprise-coda-for-Waltons-Royal-gem.html

and more on the cello here,

http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/4969-prince-charles-commisions-cello-concerto

[VodkaDilc]

Well, I recall a young Prince Charles in a docu, astride a cello. Actually I can't remember seeing him play it but he did twang a string and it struck his little brother's ear! Anyone else remember that docu?

and there is more on the cello here,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/7647290/Surprise-coda-for-Waltons-Royal-gem.html

and more on the cello here,

http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/4969-prince-charles-commisions-cello-concerto

Yes, wasn't the documentary one the the monarchy's biggest mistakes: opening the door to their world was the beginning of all the disasters of the last couple of decades. Of course Charles has featured in a documentary where he gushes about Parry - which meant that poor old Wills and Kate had their wedding swamped by the music of Charles's "discovery"!

[Flosshilde]

I happen to know the Duke of Edinburgh extremely well, ...

[mangerton]

I met his mother-in-law once, and we exchanged a few words.

(I mean the Duke's; I don't think I've ever met Mr Pee's.)

[VodkaDilc]

I met his mother-in-law once, and we exchanged a few words.

(I mean the Duke's; I don't think I've ever met Mr Pee's.)

I walked past her and she nodded at me when I got my degree. All I remember was her bad teeth.

[mangerton]

I walked past her and she nodded at me when I got my degree. All I remember was her bad teeth.

Strange you should say that. My fellow choir members and I thought exactly the same. This was in 1976.

[VodkaDilc]

Strange you should say that. My fellow choir members and I thought exactly the same. This was in 1976.

I must have seen them (the teeth) in 1973. At least they were definitely her own.

[Osborn]

I'm disappointed. I was expecting this to be about an R3 programme on the pub, its brown ale, its pickled eggs & above all the singing of Doris the barmaid after 3 double babychams

[Serial_Apologist]

I walked past her and she nodded at me when I got my degree. All I remember was her bad teeth.

From what I understand, they should nevertheless outlast the rest of her...

[mangerton]

I'm disappointed. I was expecting this to be about an R3 programme on the pub, its brown ale, its pickled eggs & above all the singing of Doris the barmaid after 3 double babychams

Oh no. That's far too upmarket for us.

[Anna]

It's always puzzled me why the royal family are never seen at the Proms, in fact I do wonder what their interests are when it comes to the arts. They have the time and money to indulge. However, I may break the habit of a lifetime and watch the Queen's speech this year out of sympathy for her. They must be having a horrible Christmas.