Charles faces 'cash-for-access' row over US tour engagements

Two months ago, the Foreign Office reminded Clarence House that - since the trip is subsidised by £250,000 - the royal couple must concentrate on diplomatic business, rather than pursuing "special interests".

Now it emerges that they'll attend at least two events connected to favoured causes. In addition, senior fundraisers from the Prince's Foundation, Charles' architectural charity, are to be flown to the US with them.

Although he's supposed to be exclusively promoting British trade and Anglo-American relations, Charles will visit one of the Foundation's exhibitions on Thursday morning.

The charity's chief executive, Hank Ditmar, and development director Catherine Howley, will fly there from London to join him.

On the same day, the Duchess of Cornwall - President of the National Osteoporosis Society - will attend a seminar on the disease at the National Institutes for Health in Washington.

Three years ago, the Prince invited 90 US donors to dine with him in Britain, at a cost of £13,000 per couple. This time, however, his office insist that no vulgar fundraising will take place.

"We're absolutely not using taxpayers' money for (Ditmar and Howley) to go," they say. "There will be no fundraising - it's purely an educational tour."

* Treason! The cockney rock'n'roll legend Kenny Jones has flicked a V-Sign towards the people of this country.

His latest single has not been releasedin the UK because Jones has lost faith in the taste of our music-buying public. Instead, the Who and Small Faces drummer has decided - oh, the cheek of it! - to only flog his record in the United States.

"We have just hit the top with my band, The Jones Gang, in the US," he tells me. "Our single is called 'Angel'. To get a new band straight out to number one is unbelievable, so I feel I've really cracked it."

By way of an explanation, Jones, who was speaking at a party organised by the German car manufacturer Audi, added: "We chose not to release in my home country of England because it is dominated by the manufactured X-Factor culture.

"The US is still the land of opportunity, where talent is rewarded."

* There is confusion over the role of Sir Richard Branson and Stelios Haji-Ioannou, below right, in Channel Four's new reality show, Make Me A Million. A month ago, it was reported that the duo would judge the contest, in which inexperienced entrepreneurs, aided by celebrity "mentors", attempt to make a million pounds.

Yesterday, it emerged that neither will sit on the judging panel. Insiders say they pulled out after details of their involvement were leaked to the press.

"Before Stelios or Branson came close to agreeing, the discussions ended up in the Sunday papers," I'm told. "One of the celebrity mentors, Emma Harrison, employs Max Clifford, and did rather too many frank interviews."

Says a spokesman for the show, which starts tonight: "We were talking to both men (Stelios and Branson), but never actually signed a deal."

* Tony Blair's relationship with his "awkward squad" of left-wing MPs could soon become a matter for the libel courts.

The Old Labour MP Alan Simpson is speaking to lawyers, after a reputable newspaper mistakenly described him as one of Blair's "ministers".

According to a legal opinion from Bob Marshall-Andrews - a fellow MP and QC - the "defamatory" suggestion that Simpson is loyal to Blair is worth "six or possibly seven figures" in damages.

"In addition to the crude allegation itself, there are plain innuendos that you have proclivities for self abasement, badger watching, and high-level aerial bombardment," he writes.

"In view of the seriousness of the matter and the distress which it has caused, I am content to act for you on a conditional fee basis."

Let battle commence!

* Bob Russell, Lib Dem MP for Colchester, has sacrificed a chunk of dignity in pursuit of The House magazine's "Backbencher of the Year" award.

In a (somewhat shameless) letter to sixty colleagues, seen by this column, Russell has issued a plea for MPs and peers to support his candidacy.

"I have been short-listed for the much-acclaimed award of Backbencher of the Year," he writes. "It would be nice to have that inscribed on my tombstone ... I would be most grateful if you could please consider voting for me, not for party political reasons, but in the hope that you feel I have played an active role as a backbencher in a general sense."

Sweetly, the letter - on House of Commons notepaper - is signed: "Bob Russell - voice of Colchester."

pandora@independent.co.uk