Brigitte Bardot in her 1950s heyday

In case you are wondering whether this post is just an excuse to put up a beach shot of La Bardot in her prime, think again. This is serious.

The now formidable Grande Dame has been giving advice to Kate Middleton on how to get her man — i.e. Prince William.

Brigitte, of course, has spent many years supporting animal cruelty causes and has a reputation for eccentricity where furry creatures are concerned.

Not surprisingly perhaps she has reacted sharply to the pictures of Kate out shooting at Balmoral with Prince Charles, and later, her best guy. Bardot thinks Kate is trying too hard to ensnare her chap into a more long-term commitment by attempting to fit in with aristocratic life.

Kate was pictured on the moors at Balmoral recently, dressed in camouflage and dangly pearl earrings — an incendiary combination apparently, although I don’t quite get the allure myself.

Brigitte, interviewed on TV by Daphne Barak said, “How sad. She was trying to win him and his family. But this is not a way to get a man. And I do know one or two things about it, you know.”

Well, whatever, Kate seems to have been more successful with William than the former French superstar thinks.

It’s said that every picture tells a story — which is better than a thousand words. That was certainly true at Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final in Paris between England and South Africa.

What does the shot above tell us about the characters of our two Princes? A lot.

As the disallowed try was being arbitrated by the video judge, Harry signals a “T” for try to the referee. Maybe it was a Royal command. Unhappily, it didn’t work.

Meanwhile William looks towards the giant screen to watch the endless replays from different angles. He seems to be praying for a try to be given.

These are fascinating insights into their different temperaments and attitudes in a moment of adversity.

Now look at the picture below …

The result is now clear. Harry seems lost in thought, gazing into the middle distance, but not particularly distressed. He’s already moved on.

Wills, however, appears to take it quite hard. This is a real blow to him.

What does this say about how either would shape up as a future King?

Need you ask? He’ll be over in Paris for the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa. Might Kate Middleton and Prince William be there too?

Prince Harry at the semi-final when England beat France

The really intriguing question though, is which team will Chelsy Davy be shouting for? She will need all her diplomatic skills not to cheer every Springbok score. That match will be as interesting as the game itself.

After debating briefly about whether to go to Paris on a Royal Anecdotes Press Pass to watch the match today, I decided against it. An autumn day in the French capital in the middle of a transport strike, cool temperatures, cool Parisians (we beat France in the semi-final), and hundreds of thousands of rugger fans, is not as enticing as it might sound at last-orders in the local pub.

We predict an England win. The team will be two points adrift with seconds of the match to go. Jonny Wilkinson will receive a pass outside the Springboks’ ten-yard line, look up at the posts and kick a perfect drop goal to take the match by one point.

How do I know this? It happens every time : in the semi-final last week, and in the previous final in Australia four years ago. It’s now an established tradition. A British version of Groundhog day.

The Queen, we hear, will watch the match on television, no doubt looking out for her grandson(s). The BBC is reporting she believes “Jonny Wilkinson will be the key to victory”. Spot on analysis, Ma’am.

Now all that remains is to Cry God for England, Prince Harry and St. George!

On Wednesday night, Kate Middleton and sister Pippa repaired to Chelsea’s upmarket nightclub Raffles for an evening with a gang of City traders.

Kate is reported as saying, “I’m having a great time, I am drinking shots and I’m dancing with my sister and having fun.”

She was said to have knocked back shots of white rum and liqueurs made with rhubarb and apple, chased down with beer. She apparently ended up on her knees during a wild dance with Wiltshire-based fund manager Alex Boyd.

An onlooker said, “Kate was having a whale of a time, she seemed like a free spirit. She spent the whole night dancing with a group of male friends. She wasn’t just dancing but she was also knocking back strong shots and beers with them too. Kate seemed to be having a good time, at one point she was dancing with a friend to the Pussycat Dolls, she was telling them that they were her favourite band.”

Kate and Pippa left at 3am, slipping out of the club’s back door to avoid waiting cameramen. Probably just as well by the sound of it. It was said she walked home unescorted.

But was that wise? Walking home unescorted at 3am in London is really asking for trouble. Prince William really does need to get his girlfriend some protection now, especially if she’s going to walk on the wild side.