A PLEASING mental image comes to mind apropos the story about Prince Charles, the feudal memo and the former personal assistant suing for unfair dismissal.

It is of Her Majesty, a cast-aside newspaper in front of her, knocking back the vitamins and saying: "God, I must keep myself going - one can't possibly let Charles get hold of the throne."

Much has already been written on the latest Royal story to hit the fan. Some of it has been very unkind about Prince Charles, whose views on education were exposed in a leaked memo. This read as follows: "What's wrong with everyone nowadays? What is it that makes everyone think... they can be pop stars, High Court judges, brilliant TV presenters or even infinitely more competent heads of state without ever putting in the necessary effort or having natural abilities?"

He also criticised what he saw as "child-centred education", which begs the question of exactly who he thinks education should be centred on.

But perhaps it is time to be kind to Prince Charles. His views were expressed in a private memo that was not intended for publication, but ended up being taken by an aggrieved former employee to use in her employment tribunal.

Charles may hold old-fashioned, some may say potty, views on education, but he has done much good for young people through his Prince's Trust, which "offers practical solutions to help young people get their lives working".

So perhaps we should be kind. The trouble is, it's easier to despair of the Prince than to shore him up. The memo may not have been intended for mass consumption, but how telling that it exists at all.

Another mental image springs irresistibly forth, with Prince Charles writing down his thoughts on bits of paper and scattering them all over the place. Post-It notes here, there and everywhere, each one proclaiming another opinion.

Maybe I'm wrong and everybody does this, but isn't there something strange about writing your political views in memos?

I think the Prince is trying to tell us something, which is that what he really fancies is having a newspaper column, a sort of memo intended for publication.

Yet another picture arises, this one thanks to a comment from a royal insider who said of his master: "He's been shouting at the radio again this morning."

Mouthing off at the radio, scribbling his thoughts on scraps of paper - what a picture of unrestrained irascibility. Charles has spent years trying to win a place in the public affections by trying on the mantle of a modern, thoughtful royal. But none of it really suits, so is he reverting to blustering, cantankerous type?

Mind you, the radio can set you off. While never having been moved to shout, I often mumble and mutter, usually when one of those rancid letters is being read out on Radio 4's PM programme.

Charles may have written a private memo, but it was revealingly odd. For a start, what strange examples he chose: pop stars, High Court judges and brilliant TV presenters.

Pop stars have always got by with as much or as little talent or effort as it takes; judges are establishment figures who rise through service - and still sometimes seem to lack that natural ability called common sense; and as for "brilliant" TV presenters, what might one of those be? I've seen plenty of good TV presenters, many more who make one wonder in idle envy how they got where they are. But brilliant? Nope, can't think of a single one.

Naturally enough, Prince Charles is reported to feel he has been misunderstood. Perhaps he'll say his views have been taken "out of context", which is that useful excuse of public people everywhere after their thoughts tumble out somewhere inconvenient or embarrassing.

The fact that such a debate can rage on, and that a Government minister, Charles Clarke, can breach protocol by criticising Prince Charles during an interview on the BBC, raises again the possibility that the throne may never come Charles's way. Especially not if the Queen keeps popping those pills.

Updated: 08:57 Thursday, November 25, 2004