The brilliant American pollster Frank Luntz — a regular on the BBC’s Newsnight — last week held a focus group on climate change for the broadcaster.

He assembled an articulate, representative group of British people to discuss the issue. Afterwards he said he’d never led a more passionate group in his career.

The experts cited included, Al Gore, Gordon Brown (Prime Minister), David Cameron (Conservative leader) and Ming Campbell (Liberal leader) among others. Tapes were played of their speeches on environmental issues and the group asked to rate them electronically.

One figure stood out in this exercise. His graph shot up to the top as soon as he began speaking. Comment included, “He speaks from the heart”, “He’s not after our vote”, “He’s been at it for decades”, “He really means what he says”. You get the picture.

Who was this paragon of environmental friendliness?

Charles, Prince of Wales.

There’s life in the old dog yet. It would be foolish to write him off as a popular King some time in the future.

The Memorial Service for Princess Diana, held this morning at the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks in London, set the tone for reconciliation that her sons so clearly want.

Prince Harry, Prince William and the Queen

Invitations to the two Camillas, the Duchess of Cornwall — who pulled out earlier this week — and Mohamed al Fayed’s daughter, spoke volumes about their wish to draw a line under the enmities that have arisen since Diana’s death ten years ago.

Prince Harry gave a moving address in his own words which totally concentrated on her role as a mother.

By contrast, the Bishop of London’s sermon seemed bullish and a little out of step with the mood in the Chapel, although it too called for a healing of old wounds.

The Queen outside the Guards’ Chapel

Small crowds turned up to watch. They gave the Queen and Prince Philip a loud cheer, but Prince Charles arrived to a stony silence.

The Queen inspecting the Eton Choristers

It was a splendid occasion which will be much appreciated by Diana’s supporters worldwide.

With a last-minute rush of interest from broadcasters and media from around the world, it is now clear that a global audiece will view the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Service at the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace.

The BBC, Sky and ITV will be broadcasting it in Britain, CNN, Fox and other networks in the U.S. BBC coverage will begin at 11am BST, and BBC America at 6am tomorrow morning.

Graphic via Daily Mail

The Queen’s lawyers are starting the process of suing RDF, the media company that made the BBC documentary, A Year With The Queen, and reassembled it in the wrong order. The impression was given that the Queen had stormed out of a photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz after she was asked to take off her “crown” — in reality a tiara.

The lawyers have concluded that the film trailer was defamatory, as Royal Anecdotes suggested at the time, and the way is now clear for action against RDF Media.

It’s believed the Queen’s lawyers will wait for the BBC’s report into the incident, currently being prepared by Will Wyatt, before deciding what action to take against the Corporation.

The Palace has been involved in “heated” discussions with the BBC to force it to scrap the documentary altogether. So far the BBC has resisted the pressure, but all now hangs on Wyatt’s report.

The legal action is a shrewd move by courtiers. Public organizations like the BBC often use investigations of this kind to push decisions into the future when the public will have forgotten what all the fuss was about.