Charles visit goes off pat

SYDNEY: Prince Charles had a day off from shaking hands and smiling yesterday as he flew from Sydney to Perth to celebrate his 67th birthday at the weekend.

He also had a day off from what appeared to be pats on his royal bottom, much against royal protocol.

The prince was being escorted around a Sydney function earlier this week by the head of the Prince’s Charities Australia, Janine Kirk, when she was caught by a press photographer seemingly sliding her hand on to the regal posterior to guide the prince to meet guests.

Kirk later denied she had touched the royal seat, saying questions about her hand were “rather silly”.

But Daily Telegraph reporter Matthew Benns could not resist the cheeky headline “His Royal Hindness”.

It brought back memories of British outrage in 1992 when then prime minister Paul Keating touched Queen Elizabeth on the back, prompting press to call him the “Lizard of Oz.” – ANA-dpa