I didn't like her anyway so her views rather justify my opinion

I was always of the opinion that the Queen Mother was a rather spiteful women who did all she could to stop any kind of healing of wounds within the Royal family regarding the former King Edward VIII whilst holding back the modernisation of the whole Royal setup.

On top of this, she lived a good life at our expense indulging her lavish tastes whilst employing people of questionable moral standards.

So I was not in the least surprised today to read in the Queen Mother's offical biography that she disliked talk of money (so she could avoid any fiscal responsibility) and she disliked Liberal Democrats !

Perhaps it is a badge of honour Lib Dems should wear.

Food is a right, not a privilege Prince Charles

Prince Charles, that noted organic food producer whose food is a bit expensive for the normal tastes of a "credit crunched" UK population has spoken out today against GM foods.

If Prince Charles was not making millions from organic foods and therefore had a vested interest in being anti GM, then I might take him seriously, but his outburst has actually made me angry.

He talks of food security being the number one concern making out he has his finger on the issue, but ignores the fact that organic farmers, like him, cannot provide enough food to feed everyone in this country and even if they could supply it it would be too expensive for the masses to be able to purchase. Just today it has been on the news that an organic farming co-operative that provides organic foods packages to be delivered to people homes in Cambridge has seen a decline of 25% in the number of subscribers because of the credit crunch.

Of course, Prince Charles does not have to worry about getting enough food in for his family (or cooking it for that matter). He grows it on his many thousands of acres of land and comes form one of the richest families in the UK, so his privileged allows him to talk about the issue whilst others worry how they will feed their families, and not just UK citizens, but all those millions around the world who are starving do this each and every day of their lives.

I am not going to argue the merits of GM vs organic. All I know is that science should be allowed the chance to solve our food problems.

A rich privileged man in this case fails to address the point that food is a right not a privilege.

Is Harry going to visit ?

After THIS news, are we to assume Prince William could soon expect a visit from Prince Harry ?

News Cock Up Of The Day

On the BBC News just now, a report on Prince William serving for eight weeks in the Royal navy, Nicholas Witchell said

"Prince William received his commission in the the Household cavalry from his mother at Sandhurst"

I know traditionally that if the Royal family want something they usually get it, but surely they didn't dig up Prince William's mother ?

Nicholas Witchell, the Royal correspondent ought to look up the family tree of the Royal family and learn that The Queen (who in fact gave him his commission) is in fact Prince William's grandmother.

Royal becomes Tory fundraiser ?

Vicsount Linley is apparently going to attend and be involved with a Tory fundraising occasion.

Tories, toffs and sex scandals ... It's like the old Tories are back. Come on Dave, bring the Torch back as the logo too !

Hat Tip - Jailhouse Lawyer

Have they nothing better to do on Christmas Day ?

I'm am no critic of the Royal family, far from it. I think in our constitutional monarchy they play their full part and I think the recent documentary on the Royal family, and in particular the work of the much maligned Dukes of York and Wessex, has shown just how much they do. However, some people do take their adulation of the Royal family to far.

I am sure if the Royals were visiting my village I'd pop down to have a look. But why every Christmas Day morning are we greeted on the news by the same old bunch of sad cases who have nothing better to do on that day of all days, than travel to Sandringham to stand outside the church to give the Queen some flowers.

Is it me or is it just very sad ?

The BBC cock up over the Queen is a resigning matter

There are a number of people suggesting the Peter Fincham, the controller of BBC1 should resign after the debacle over the way a clip previewing a BBC series about the Queen was shown in the incorrect order in order to misrepresent a particular situation.

Personally, i agree that a resignation is due, but NOT from Peter Fincham. He presented this clip to journalists in good faith. Someone else put this clip together and someone else must have checked it and said it was okay.

So yes Mr Fincham, keep your job, but don't let the oaf who cut corners and brought the name of the BBC and yourself in to disrepute get away with it. Sack the person responsible or ask them to resign. If that doesn't happen, then you will have to take the rap yourself.

Sorry Plaid Cymru, it's actually called having good manners

With the opening of the Welsh Assembly's third session today, we read that two Plaid Cymru AM's have boycotted the Queen's visit. Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins will visit a homelessness project in Swansea instead.

"As a Welsh person, I do not see how the monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation," said Ms Jenkins,

And as an elected Assembly Member, I assumed that you understand the respoinsibilities of the office you hold and the manners to show courtesy in a dignified way for the head of state.

It's all about showing that you are fit for office, and being fit to govern. Silly schoolgirl acts like refusing to go somewhere because they aren't "relevant" is more akin to something a sixth former would do.

My simple message - Grow up and show respect for your office. You may not like the monarchy, but the Queen has little choice in the matter and she fulfills her role with dignity and honour. If you want a Republic, then campaign for one, but don't disrespect the Queen for doing her job !

Could Mr Blair's legacy be the death of a Prince ?

With news today that Iraqi militants are explicitly threatening to kidnap and murder Prince Harry and reports that militants have also been able to penetrate the armour of Challenger 2 tanks, will Mr Blair's legacy be that he is the first Prime Minister ever to send a monarch's son to his death ?

SKY News were recalling earlier that in World War One, when the then Prince of Wales was fighting on the Western Front, his ADC, who was at his side at all times, was ordered that "in no circumstances should he be captured or fall in to enemy hands". Make of that what you will, and remember, this was in against a far more civilised enemy than Iraqi insurgents.

To my mind Blair will be remembered more for the war than for anything else, but if he send a Prince to his death in order to fight his war, Blair will have been in charge when Harry's mother died, and then sent her son to his death.

Is Prince Harry's life more important that anyone other British service man or womans life ? No, of course not, but because of what he represents and the prize he would be to insurgents he does represent an important symbol.

Of course, no British soldier should be dying fighting Blair's war in the first place.

Mohamed Al Fayed - Blind to the facts and the truth

In the wake of the pulblication of the Stevens report in to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, I listened to the press conference of Mohamed Al Fayed on the radio this afternoon it re-inforced to me that Mr Al Fayed is blinf to the facts and a stranger to the truth.

His comments calling the Stevens enquiry a cover up were simply a case of a man who seeks to hide behind innuendo to deny his employee's involvement in Diana and Dodi's death. His constant insinuation that Diana's death was the responsibility of the Royal family are, yo my mond, distasteful and do little to make people believe he has anything important and useful to say.

The evidence shows quite clearly that Mr Al Fayed's employee was drunk and drove too fast. Accidents can happen and they did. It is about time Mr Al Fayed moved on and stopped trying to find a scapegoat for his son's tragic death.

It is natural to want to blame someone, but his muck raking has to be seen the context of a man with a grudge against the "establishment" who blocked his British citizenship and Diana's two sons who want to move on in their lives. It is time to forget all the conspiracies and move on.

Lord Stevens is a good man who has been very thorough in preparing his report. Given a choice of who to believe, Mr Al Fayed or Lord Stevens, I know who most people would back, and he isn't an Egyptian !