One summer, Prince Philip was presented with a birthday present of three pairs of carriage-driving gloves. He unwrapped the parcel and inspected the gift.
The first pair of gloves were a light tan colour. The duke sniffed approvingly. The second pair were dark tan. Thank you very much, he said.
The third pair were a pale lilac colour. He held them up disdainfully between his thumb and forefinger and said: I think we ll give these to the Prince of Wales.
I was there when he said this and his biting sarcasm came as no surprise. By the late Eighties, he often gave the impression that he wished his first-born were more robust and less fey.
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