Ben Summerskill, society editor
Prince Charles has expressed his anger
at the treatment of refugees by Britain's
political parties and says he feels
'enormous sympathy' for people who flee
to Britain from tyranny abroad.
'The prince has been deeply saddened by
the nature of public debate over this,'
revealed an associate close to him. 'He
thinks the majority of these people flee
from terrible circumstances and should be
allowed to stay. If a small number slip
through who shouldn't, well, they add to
the rich culture of Britain.'
The disclosure of the prince's views just
days after the murder of 10-year-old
Nigerian Damilola Taylor will serve as a
rebuke to leading political figures of all
parties. Earlier this year, the Commission
for Racial Equality begged both Labour
and the Conservatives to tone down their
furious exchanges on race and asylum.
By convention, members of the royal
family do not make political observations.
However, the prince has long believed that
most politicians are misguided about
architecture and many about GM foods
and has felt free to challenge them. His
views on asylum are likely to endear him
to many Labour MPs who usually
disapprove of his affection for blood
sports.
A former employee of Charles said: 'This
is utterly consistent with views the prince
has articulated privately over the years.
He is anxious that Britain should be a
harmonious nation.
'He is well-informed and often has
perceptive opinions about the political
scene.'
In the past, Prince Charles has expressed
his ambition that one day he will rule a
'multicultural Britain' in which he will be a
'defender of faiths'. Two months ago the
Police Foundation, of which Prince
Charles is president, said that ethnic
minority groups believe that the police are
'racially prejudiced'.
Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat
home affairs spokesman, said: 'Even an
indirect rebuke from such an influential
source will, I hope, remind all politicians,
particularly in an election year, that their
duties go beyond party politics and
extend to some of the most vulnerable
people in the world.'
~*~
Queen 'annoyed' as her jubilee
organiser walks out(Sunday UK Times)
Nicholas Hellen
ONE of the Queen's most trusted aides,
who was in charge of organising national
celebrations for her golden jubilee, has
resigned at a key stage in the
preparations.
The Queen is said by palace sources to
be "annoyed" at the departure after 12
years in royal service of Geoff Crawford,
her press secretary, for a lucrative public
relations post in his native Australia.
Events to mark the 50th anniversary in 2002 of the second
Elizabethan age will celebrate her reign and signal a gradual
delegation of royal duties to the Prince of Wales.
Crawford, 49, was to have administered a programme of events
beginning in February 2002, including a review of the armed
forces, the issue of commemorative medals to public servants
and the opening of gardens at royal palaces for a series of
concerts.
The Commonwealth Games will take place in Manchester
during the year and there is to be an extra bank holiday in June.
The tone of the celebrations will contrast sharply with those at
the time of the silver jubilee in 1977 because the Queen has
said there should be no "undue expenditure" from public funds.
An announcement of Crawford's departure is expected this week
and he is likely to leave the palace by the end of the year.
A source said: "The Queen is cross because she got on well
with him."
This weekend it emerged that Penny Russell-Smith, deputy
press secretary to the Queen, may be promoted to succeed
Crawford - although there is still a possibility that an outsider
will be found to take up the position.
Crawford had worked for six years as an Australian diplomat
before he became assistant press secretary to the Queen in
June 1988. He went on to work in the offices of the Duke and
Duchess of York and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Although Crawford once enjoyed Diana's full trust, it is thought
she ceased to confide in him because she suspected him of
siding with the people she perceived as her "enemy" - the
Buckingham Palace courtiers.
He joined the Queen's private office after leaving his job with the
princess in 1995 when she gave her interview to Martin Bashir
on BBC's Panorama programme without consulting him. After
his resignation he declared that he had enjoyed working for her,
but there was some criticism at the way he responded to her
death in 1997.
Crawford had been slow to return from Australia, where he was
staying at the time, and when he was back in Britain he gave a
"monosyllabic" television interview which failed to capture the
public mood of mourning. While the Queen stood by him, the
Prince of Wales was a vocal critic and some courtiers expected
him to leave.
Some of his predecessors also left royal service for highly paid
public relations jobs. Four years ago Charles Anson, then press
secretary to the Queen, joined Grand Metropolitan as group
corporate relations director.
There may be a reorganisation this week of the Buckingham
Palace press office under Simon Walker, who recently joined as
communications secretary to the Queen from British Airways.
He will be responsible for finding the replacement for Crawford,
who was due to move up to the post of assistant private
secretary in the new year.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said yesterday: "We do
not comment on staffing matters."
~*~
Camilla's son launches credit card
that pampers the rich(Sunday UK Times)
Robert Locke
TOM Parker Bowles, son of the Prince of Wales's consort
Camilla Parker Bowles, is helping to launch a new credit card
membership company aimed at catering for every need of the
rich.
Parker Bowles, who acquired a certain notoriety last year when
it emerged he had taken cocaine, is part of a new business
being set up by his cousin Ben Elliot, the founder of London's
K-bar, and Aaron Simpson, a film producer.
Lucia van der Post, daughter of the late Laurens van der Post,
the anthropologist who was Prince Charles's mentor, is to
source luxury goods and services for the venture.
Other well-connected advisers include Santa Sebag-Montefiore,
daughter of two of Prince Charles' best friends, and Annabel
Heseltine, daughter of Michael Heseltine.
The company, Quintessentially, has been set up to rival
American Express's Centurion card. It will offer a "bespoke
concierge service" to find the best luxury goods and services for
its by-invitation members.
It follows a trend away from standard, bank-issued cards to
attempts by celebrities, charities and institutions to cash in on
their brand names through a credit card. Stars who have issued
cards include David Bowie, Sir Elton John and the Rolling
Stones.
There are also affinity cards, which are branded with the name
of an organisation. They work in the same way as a standard
credit card except that a small percentage of money is passed
on to the group concerned. There are more than 1,500 in Britain.
There are few obstacles to anyone issuing their own credit
cards. Companies simply team up with a bank which manages
the financial side while the business markets the card and
takes a percentage of what is spent. The card, either a Visa or
MasterCard, is no different from a typical bank card and can be
used anywhere.
Quintessentially will start by offering a membership pass which,
for an annual fee of £250, will entitle an initial 1,000 users to
benefits such as access to airline VIP lounges, half-price rooms
at some of London's leading hotels and entry to top clubs and
restaurants. Within six months the part-black, part-transparent
pass will be upgraded into a credit card.
The venture has been backed by Dresdner Kleinwort Benson,
the City bank, which has already put £500,000 into the
business, and Reality, an e-commerce company which is
contributing services worth the same amount.
Simpson and Elliot had the idea for the company. Parker
Bowles joined earlier this year after leaving Dennis Davidson
Associates, a film publicity company.
Parker Bowles has kept a low profile over the past year and has
changed his image, spending more time working than partying.
At Quintessentially he manages stock control and forges new
links with commercial partners.
The first card members were sent invitations to the launch party
this Friday, a breakfast at Tiffany's in Bond Street, London.