Prince William here shown holding one of three-week-old twins Sina and Sem born to their mother Banata in a new baby unit of St Mary’s Hospital where he himself was born 24 years ago.

However, the UK Daily Mail today highlights a different story :

“For in a sad symbol of modern-day Britain, Banata is a homeless and penniless single mother from a faraway African land, surviving in Britain on state benefits. The 30-year-old lives in a council hostel for the destitute and it is here in an ill-furnished single room — unless the authorities find her a flat, which she believes is her right — that she will care for the twins when they leave hospital in a week’s time.”

Prince William had no idea of the politically-sensitive nature of the situation of the family when he met them. Britain’s NHS hospitals are being inundated with so-called “health tourists” who arrive and immediately check themselves into medical units straight from the airport, knowing they won’t be given a bill for even the most costly treatments.

Should we be proud of that, or should we be concerned at the poor standards now offered to the indigenous population who have to wait for years for even acute operations?

Prince Harry’s practical joking got him into trouble over the weekend when he caused havoc at a friend’s 21st birthday party by throwing smoke bombs into a marquee full of guests.

At around 1 am, people dancing inside the tent had to escape onto the lawn, bringing the party to an abrupt end and recriminations from alarmed guests.

The marquee was filled with smoke for more than two hours horrifying party-goers.

Lucy Kent, whose birthday it was, is said to have been very upset by the sudden end to the celebrations at her parents’ house near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The party was due to go on all night.

Lucy belongs to Harry’s close social circle and was formerly a girlfriend of the notorious Guy Pelly.

“She was really cross about it,” said a guest. “The party was meant to be an all-nighter but after Harry released these toxic things at about one o’clock in the morning everyone had to get out. Until then everybody had been dancing but the disco had to stop - he ruined it for everyone.”

CBS News is reporting Prince William’s visit to a maternity ward on its showbiz page. How weird is that? They put it very nicely, though, even managing to mention Kate Middleton. Maternity ward .. Kate Middleton … hmmm, where’s the connection?

In jolly old England, Prince William visited the hospital where he was born into royalty. He was there to help inaugurate a new baby ward at St. Mary’s in Paddington, London. He spent time talking to children and speaking with a woman who had given birth to twins.

The prince chatted while awkwardly holding one of the twins in his arms — single-handedly winning the hearts of every woman on the planet! Kate Middleton, you’re one lucky woman.

Well, I suppose at a push you could call it showbiz — at least to Americans.

No broody comments, please.

We’re starting to get pre-Christmas publication of books that would make ideal gifts, or, as we say here in the UK, stocking fillers (don’t ask).

Corgi and Bess — More Wit and Wisdom from the House of Windsor contains a goodly selection of amusing Royal anecdotes collected by Thomas Blaikie, whose previous book was, You Look Awfully Like the Queen.

The work is a smile-a-minute romp through Royal life and engagements with the Queen usually bearing up under trying circumstances and other members of her family behaving according to character. If you enjoy Royal gossip — and why wouldn’t you if you visit this site — you’ll like this book.

It’s a simple format, anecdotes grouped under chapter titles, like, “Family Rivalry — Who is the Loveliest of Them All?” and “Royal to the Core”.

The hard cover version, published by 4th Estate, is compact and fits easily in the pocket for reference on train journeys or similar excursions.

Here are two extracts to give a flavour of the book :

“At Eton Prince William came across a fellow-pupil throwing stones at a swan. ‘Stop that you ginga [ginger] bastard! he cried. ‘Those are my granny’s swans.’ [In England all swans are owned by the Queen].”

“Kenneth Clark, Lord Clark of Civilisation, found himself being frog-marched into being Surveyor of the King’s Pictures by George V.

‘Come and work for me,’ he barked.
‘I wouldn’t have time to do the job properly.’
‘What is there to do?’
‘Well, Sir, the pictures need looking after.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with them.’
‘But people write letters asking about them.’
‘Don’t answer them.’ ”