No Car Change

Thank goodness I left the car showroom, went home and had time to ponder yesterday afternoon. Seeing that little two-seater "warts and all" and "unprepped" offered me an opportunity to see what it was really like; and how it had been treated by its previous owner.

I still cannot quite fathom why a 10,000-mile car has had two tyres changed, despite the claim that there had been punctures. The tyres on any new cars I have owned have lasted for many years indeed.

I want a very clean, privately-owned, Benitoite blue - a dark shade apparently pronounced ben-ee-toe-ite - Mercedes-Benz 200 SLK automatic with very low mileage. High specification, too.

Another factor was the trade-in price I was offered for the baby two-seater: absolutely ridiculous, to my mind. I would say that, I hear them clamour. I'd sooner sell it outside on the public highway, with a large For Sale sign, than sell it to Agnew's at the price they offered me. The price differential to change was too great.

I shall bide my time and keep an eye on the Internet. There is a nice-looking SLK for sale at a Mercedes dealership. The snag is that it is in Dorchester!

Car Change

I have experienced some anguish over whether to change my car. I'm thinking of buying a Mercedes-Benz 200SLK automatic. Though it wouldn't be brand new, the model I viewed today - at Agnew's - is metallic blue, 2008, with 10,000 miles on the clock.

I just might be tempted to change, if they sharpen up the deal a bit. The car would have the full Mercedes Approved Warranty and, I am assured, a new set of alloy wheels and mats - and, indeed, anything else required. The wheels are badly pitted which, they claim, was a design flaw. Perhaps the previous owner lived near the sea!

I was shown the car in its "raw" state, viz. "unprepped". It had literally just come in to them and I saw it "with warts and all". It doesn't look very clean, with scuffs inside and so on; though, to be fair, they assured me that when they had finished with it, it would look like new.

My current motor insurance company shan't insure the car because it doesn't have a tracking system fitted! It does have a standard Mercedes Thatcham-approved alarm, though.

I'm in two minds, as ever. The best insurance quotation I have had from another company is £461; though a broker service called Prestige has also quoted £500.

Dearer insurance, dearer car tax, dearer servicing, thirstier...am I sane? Don't answer that!

Éire Ducal Visit

It has been brought to my notice that there was an article in yesterday's Irish Times newspaper about a visit to Kilkenny, Ireland, by the erstwhile Lord Stewart of Her Majesty's Household, His Grace the Duke of Abercorn KG.

During lunch at Kilkenny Castle, the Duke was shown photographs of the last royal visit – by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1904.

His Grace was joined by HM Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Julian Beresford King CMG; and the Mayor of Kilkenny.

It is expected that The Queen will pay a visit to the Irish Republic in 2011.

Valete: Castle Ward Opera

My disappointment regarding the demise of Castle Ward Opera is already well known. I began a debate about it in February this year, in fact.

The traditions and ambiance of Castle Ward - a country estate - cannot be replicated in an opera house. Any attempt to undermine the Arts Council of Northern Ireland by, for instance, former patrons of Castle Ward Opera continuing the tradition of wearing formal evening dress at alternative venues - such as the Grand Opera House, Belfast - would be frowned upon by them. They would doubtless consider it as "elitist".

I wish to give prominence to this subject. Indeed I received a comment from a member of Castle Ward Opera Company today and it reflects my sentiments; so much so that I shall reproduce it here:-

"As a member of the now defunct Castleward Opera I can sadly confirm the news. The Arts Council have removed funding and forced an unhappy coalition between Castleward and the Opera Fringe Festival. A new Artistic Director has been appointed for the uninspired 'opera company northern Ireland, after much half hearted and disorganised faffing by the Arts Council.

No programme has been put in place but it seems likely that the Opera House will be venue. Castleward will no longer be used. A very sad piece of news indeed. Given that the management at opera house rent the space at an exorbitant rate, we can look forward to endless productions of Carmen and Aida to cater for an audience who think nothing of shelling out £100 to see Lady GaGa at the Odyssey but suddenly start crying 'elitist' when asked to pay roughly half that for a night at the opera.

We are definitely having 2 gala nights first weekend in September, full orchestra, soloists from over the years, extended interval to say a big final Thank You to all our supporters over the years. Should be an amazing and emotional couple of evenings. Hope to see you all there."

Royal Dukedoms

Royal dukedoms interest me. Their history is already well documented; however, as usual, I shall endeavour to condense the facts down to their essence.

When a royal peerage is conferred upon a royal prince or, indeed princess, and it subsequently becomes extinct, it is then reserved for a later prince and is unavailable to a Subject.

The royal dukedoms of York and Gloucester were both created in 1385. Since 1474 the dukedom of York has traditionally been reserved for the Sovereign's second son.

The Dukedom of Edinburgh was first bestowed on a grandson of King George I. Queen Victoria made her son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh; and, like Prince Philip - the current Duke - he, too, was a sailor prince.

The Dukedom of Kent was originally non-royal. The Greys held this title until it became extinct in 1797. It effectively became a royal dukedom two years later, when King George III gave it to his fourth son.

Other royal dukedoms include the Dukedom of Clarence, derived from the Honour of Clare in Suffolk; the Dukedoms of Cumberland and Albany; the Dukedom of Kendal; the Dukedom of Sussex; the Dukedom of Connaught; and the Dukedom of Cambridge.

Since the Dukedoms of Albany and Connaught no longer pertain to the Realm, they may be considered virtually extinct. The Dukedom of Windsor was created especially for HM King Edward VIII following his abdication; so, though technically vacant, it is unlikely that this title shall be revived.

The Dukedom of Cambridge was re-conferred as a marquesssate in the 20th century which has since become extinct; so it is possible that this royal dukedom could be revived one day.

The Duchy of Lancaster has been merged with the Crown; and the dukedoms of Cornwall and Rothesay are used by the Heir Apparent.

It has been proclaimed that, following the deaths of his parents, HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex shall become The Duke of Edinburgh.

Paul James wrote an interesting piece about royal dukedoms in 2004.

Whilst it cannot be discounted that a new royal dukedom could be created, the most likely dukedoms to be re-conferred in future are those of Sussex, Clarence or Cambridge. There has, indeed, been some speculation that, on the day of Prince William's marriage, such a title may be conferred.

Prince William's bride would otherwise assume the style Her Royal Highness Princess William of Wales.

Last published in June, 2009.

Boat Trip

I picked up Richard, another NT volunteer, just before noon today and we motored straight to the picturesque village of Strangford in County Down. We were meeting up with Craig, who was supervising a boat trip round part of Strangford Lough.

The boat, MV St Brendan, arrived at one o'clock and several dozen of us embarked. We sailed southwards, past Cloghy Rocks and Kilclief Point; before approaching Killard Point. En route we spotted many seals, cormorants, shags, grey herons and black-headed gulls.

At Killard Point, we changed direction and made towards Ballyquintin Point at the very tip of the Ards Peninsula. Now we sailed northwards and back into Strangford Lough again. We passed Portaferry and the Old Court estate, including the pretty little Katherine Quay with its boat-house or lodge; thence the boat took us past Ballyhenry Island, Chapel Island and Jackdaw Island; and back past Audley's Castle.

We finally disembarked at three o'clock; and three of us strolled over to the Cuan Bar in the village where we found a table and ordered food and drink: Richard had scallops; Eric, the confit of duck; while I devoured a rather good - though pricey - open prawn sandwich, at £14.50. I washed it down with a half shandy.

Despite inclement weather, it was a most agreeable outing.

Having a Laugh!

Good heaven. I have never laughed so much in ages. Every time I looked at the spoof picture of myself, having "morphed" my face into a princely uniform, I simply couldn't stop it. Hysterical. I merely wish that the Dowager could have seen it. What a tonic.

I'm off later on a boat trip on Strangford Lough, courtesy of the National Trust.