Portraits

The strength of the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales, however, shows no sign of abating nearly a year after her death. But it is the re-emergence of the Prince of Wales in the public8217;s affections that is the most remarkable aspect of this poll. His popularity has risen 14 points since the question was last asked in October 1997, showing he always suffered from direct comparison with Diana.

But the detail of the poll shows that Prince Charles continues to have a problem8217; with women. Support for him to become king is significantly weaker among women than men, with 40 per cent of female respondents saying they didnot think he would make a good king. This is confirmed by answers to the question of whether Charles should marry Camilla Parker Bowles. There is no longer majority opposition, with those opposed down nine points since October 1997, to 46 per cent. These results would seem to suggest that the campaign by Prince Charles8217;s staff to make him look friendlier, less controversial and more modern is beginning to pay off. His tour of South Africa last November on which he took Prince Harry, joked with the Spice Girls and chatted informally with the press was one example.

The perfect alibi

8220;I lied to protect Chelsea,8221; is the line being excitedly scripted for Bill Clinton by parlour strategists across the country. Their view, as they follow the Monica Lewinsky scandal, is that this might be his best defence as he prepares for his testimony to the grand jury. No one, incidentally, suggests that Bill might claim that he lied to protect Hillary. The general assumption is that, after many years of imputedinfidelities, culminating in the President8217;s admission in a deposition that, yes, he did have a fling with Gennifer Flowers, Hillary is so hardened to the vagaries of her husband8217;s libido that she no longer requires the fig leaf of an uxorious denial. The problem with this strategy is that both Bill and Hillary are by temperament and political experience adamantly averse to any disclosure of marital errancy. And Chelsea, who seems to be a young woman of secure ego and sound judgment, is probably arguing 8211; assuming her views are canvassed at all 8211; that the notion, after all these years, that she needs the cushion of a presidential lie is downright insulting. After all, Chelsea has spent her life thus far in the fishbowl of her father8217;s political career.

The word on Chelsea from the teen set in Washington and her fellow students in Stanford is that she8217;s a nice girl, not stuck up, and trying to get along as best she can. She brings out the better part of her father, demonstrable in the, for once, unfeignedway he talks affectionately about her. The thought about the Clintons Bill and Hillary is that many, many years ago, they came to an accommodation, in which whatever anger Hillary may feel concerns more the folly of her husband in inflicting political damage upon himself than the betrayal of their vows. In this case, Chelsea would be aware of such an accommodation, as children usually are, and has had years to get used to it. So she8217;d laugh at the notion that she might need protection through her father lying about Monica and urge him to find a better way to defend himself in his hour of peril.

Forgotten Dodi

Egyptian multi-millionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed complained that the death of his son Dodi alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, had been 8220;completely overlooked8221;. As Britain prepares to mourn the first anniversary of the Princess8217;s August 31 death, Al-Fayed said in an interview with The Express tabloid that his son was the forgotten victim of the tragedy. 8220;People can be very thoughtless.Princess Diana was the most famous woman in the world and so it is inevitable then that people will be remembering her death rather than Dodi8217;s. In many cases, his death is completely overlooked I find that hurtful,8221; Al-Fayed said. The owner of London8217;s exclusive Harrods department store has infuriated the British royal family and the press by claiming that the death of Dodi and Diana was an establishment plot to prevent them from becoming married.

Truth about pop

The shameful truth is out. The nation of Britpop and punk is secretly rather middle of the road. The largest-ever poll of musical tastes has confirmed the Beatles8217; place in British hearts, but the remainder of the top 100 is a triumph for easy listening. Celine Dion, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins and Elton John dominate the top 10 in a list compiled by the British Marketing Research Bureau for Mojo magazine after asking 5,000 people to name their favourite artist.

The biggest surprise, according to Mojo editor Matt Snow, was not thosewho were in, but those who were not. Precious few 1980s acts appear, nor do the Who, the Sex Pistols, T Rex, or the Clash. It seems the middle aged and middle class won through. The Beatles received 261 votes. Frank Sinatra got 148 votes, whereas Queen, was at fourth with 128 votes. The best showing for a British 1990s act was Oasis, placed eighth with 92 votes. Boyzone made 36. Madonna, who turns 40 on Sunday, will no doubt be less than impressed to be beaten by both Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey to top female artist honours. Similarly, Bob Dylan ranked 41 must be asking himself what he did to deserve being topped by the Backstreet Boys.