Home movies

At almost any family gathering these days there is always a slightly disreputable uncle who gets out a video camera and starts to embarrass everybody by pointing it at people as they eat spaghetti or try to have a serious conversation about somebody's drink problem. Some people retreat behind gadgets as a substitute for conversation.

At almost any family gathering these days there is always a slightly disreputable uncle who gets out a video camera and starts to embarrass everybody by pointing it at people as they eat spaghetti or try to have a serious conversation about somebody's drink problem. Some people retreat behind gadgets as a substitute for conversation.

Although it is unusual for the uncle to intend to sell the resulting home movie at the car-boot sale, a sharp reprimand from a more senior family member is usually sufficient to bring the offender to heel.

The attempt by Ardent Productions to film Prince William at St Andrews University is, therefore, presumably a cunning plan by Prince Edward to convince an increasingly monarcho-sceptic public that the Royal Family, although it does not ride bicycles, really is just like the rest of us.