In the memo, written in March last year Charles seemed exasperated by a suggestion from one of his personal assistants that she and people like her should be trained for more senior positions in his household.

What is wrong with everyone nowadays? Why do they all seem to think they are qualified to do things far beyond their capabilities? This is to do with the learning culture in schools as a consequence of a child-centred system which admits no failure, People think they can all be pop stars, high court judges, brilliant TV personalities.. without ever putting in the necessary work or having natural ability. It's the result of social utopianism which believes that humanity can be genetically and socially engineered to contradict the lessons of history.

Was this evidence of royal snobbery; an attempt to keep people in their places and stop them rising up through Britain's class-ridden social hierarchy? Was he was simply advocating a flexible education system catering for the talents and limitations of all children? Neither. It was a private note on a private matter. Everyone has a natural right to say what they believe (despite what Education Minister Charles Clarke said), but was what he said an attack on the meritocracy, or supportive of it? With his comments, one could say that Charles actually argued against himself...judged by many as incapable of being king, the comment highlighted the fact that many people don't merit their high status success.

The cause of problem, not just child centric education, but ego-centric culture.  Pop Idols rich & famous for doing karaoke, models famous for simply being aesthetic furniture, and worst of all, reality TV stars famous for their "character". It's as undeserved as the lottery winner who hadn't worked a day in his life. People good at sport are worshipped as "heroes" whilst the emergency services go about their daily business underpaid. Charles' own average, but personable sons are famous simply because they were born right.

Everyone has personal demons to overcome and challenges to meet...if only we all had such astounding abilities; that would surely make us better, more deserving people, wouldn't it? If we've learnt anything, it's that celebrities with ready cash and expanding egos aren't suitable role models for anyone. We don't have a meritocracy! We live in a "media-cracy" where news coverage equals fame, infamy and social success. Yes, even infamy equal success in the sensationalist media that celebrates badness. Celebrity obsession is the nation's favourite distraction; wanting to share in that fame isn't just a dream of the lower class. You too can "fake it" in a month, become a musicality star, a pop idol, famous for living on an island or working in an airport. Success dependent on coverage. There are no absolutes. Middle classes are hypnotised by a dream of Sunday magazine social utopia. It keeps everyone happy to a degree...but also prevents them from setting realistic fulfilable goals. It's very good being like the venerable Christopher Reeve; determined he would, against all odds, walk again, but focusing on the impossible you miss the chance to do what you can. The Prince's comment wasn't about snobbery, it was about pragmatism. It's insulting to suggest that a person's place in the world DOESN'T affect the opportunities open to a them in life. As he said "work and natural ability" are what is required, not just unfettered ambition-to quote song lyrics ambition makes you look pretty ugly.