Happy birthday Prince Charles

November 14th is Prince Charles’ birthday.

I can claim a connection as my brother was born 4 days earlier in the same place (the Lindo Wing, Queen Mary Hospital, Paddington) and delivered by the same gynaecologist (George Pinker).

There the similarity ends.

Prince Charles might well be a future king in the most famous family in the world.

He has never been a popular or really a respected figure.

In the breakdown of his marriage he was more judged the guilty party for his affairs with Camilla.

His relationship now with Harry seems strained.

We don’t know – as most don’t know – him.  Those I know who have met him speak well of him.

Yet I do know he likes to have meetings from 12-30 to 2-00 in which you just get a cup of tea.

If this is true then he’s saying “I can do without food, so can you”.

In her reign the Queen has scarcely made a faux pas but we can expect King Charles to be more vocal particularly on climate change.

He was pictured in the Telegraph on Saturday with a pained expression in an elegant tailored sports jacket Jermyn St shirt and regimental tie with a crofter’s walking stick.

I know of few people who dress like this.

He wants to be connected and consulted on the big issues of the day but comes over as distant from today’s Britain.