Peter Rhodes on royals in battledress, the But People and the passing of a radio legend
According to royal leaks (where would we be without them?), Prince George may not be expected to serve in the armed forces, breaking a tradition dating back centuries. But does it matter?
The purpose of putting princes in combat kit is that it shows they and their family are fully committed to the defence of the nation, even if it means dying in battle. It is also seen as preparation for the monarch's role as commander-in-chief.
But in real life the C-in-C title is purely ceremonial and, as we saw with Prince Harry in Afghanistan, protecting a prince on the front line is a massive task. In an age of bullseye drones, the heir to the throne in the battle zone is, to be frank, a damn nuisance. If the lad would rather be a doctor, social worker or teacher, why not?
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So farewell, Tony Butler who has died aged 88. The former BBC/BRMB presenter is credited with inventing the sports phone-in, thus giving fans a chance to tell the nation they were over the moon or sick as a parrot with their team's performance.
