You have to feel a bit sorry for the royals. Yes, they have excuses to wear flouncy dresses and tiaras more often than the rest of us, and one imagines their take on domestic chores consists of a passing 'good morning' to the domestics, but still, to be forced to live their personal lives so publicly must really take the wind out of their sails.

This week Earl Spencer and his wife Caroline applied to have a private hearing for their divorce (the Earl does seem to be in a groove of constant partner-changing, but we won't go there).  In essence, the court deemed that all are equal in the eyes of the Family Court, and therefore the Earl and Caroline don't get any special privileges - hmmm, well not all of us have the "special privilege" of arguments about our partner's behaviour being reported in the papers, or camera lenses trained on us as we leave the house for school drop-off decked out in crazy morning hair, slippers, and frayed old trackie dacks. Now, I'm not suggesting that either Caroline or the Earl has appeared in that particular attire, but there is a level of interest in their goings-on that my neighbours (i.e. the pyjama-ed ones across the road), for example, simply would not generate. They, as would most of us, enjoy a relatively private divorce process, on account of us fortuitously being Not Royal (or Royally-Affiliated).  Caroline and the Earl ended up settling out of court...wonder how much the unpleasant prospect of their personal business being lobbed about publicly, influenced that decision....

Then there's Harry-and-Chelsy who aren't officially Harry-and-Chelsy.  Can't help thinking that a romance should be a personal and wondrous event between the couple (and their circle of family and friends, it has to be said). Harry and Chelsy seem not to have particularly courted the press at all through their relationship, and at the tender ages of 24 (ish), I do feel sorry for them that they can't deal with it sans all the public speculation.  However, I have to say, they do seem to have a special connection (yes, even from 12,000 km away I can sense that connection!). They look good together, they seem good together - I just can't help thinking they belong together ! Go Harry and Chelsy !! (not that I'm wanting to add to the speculationand fever of it all, of course...).

And finally, there's Michael, King of Pop.  No, not officially royal but who, through an absolutely huge catalogue of fantastic songs and performance, accompanied so many of us through our big chunks of our lives - ABC, Ben, Got to be Starting Something, Don't stop 'til you Get Enough, Rock with You, Billie Jean, Thriller, Man in the Mirror....the list of iconic and memorable music that Michael Jackson gave to the world goes on and on. Despite the apparent bizarreness of his later years, Michael Jackson has left a musical legacy that the world will remember for decades to come... long live the King - Boogie On.

PS   Note Prince Albert's thrown down the gauntlet of sorts by commenting that he's the 'only head of state to have visited both the North and South Pole'.  If that's not a challenge, well, I don't know what is....any takers? Queen Elizabeth, Beatrix, Margrethe - where are you ??  Get thee to the Poles!!