The idle prince

Officialphotographs of Prince William and his family skiing fuelled growing criticismin the British press on Tuesday (March 8) of the "workshy" royal,driven by frustration at his perceived reluctance for a life in the public eye.

With the brave heart of a lion

He watches the sky or scratches his behind

An English Sunday: the smell of roasting venison

Wafts across the solarium

His wife is trying on her new hat

She is part clothes horse part fashion plate

Sometimes the strain of expectation

Shows on her perfect face

One day a Tweet will come

The old man will be gone

The garden looks rather unruly

Should he fly the helicopter?

And the next holiday. Barbados or Monserrat

Do not suppose that it is not a huge burden

To pretend to have a job and to embody luxury

While appearing to be ordinary

Someone must feed the peacocks

And programme the fountains
One day, he’ll have to mow the Home Counties

To say that he, William, is work shy

The understudy to an elderly heir

How unfair! It is no mean thing

To wear the Polo shirt of state

Please do not accuse him of indolence!

It’s a tough job being a prince.

His sole purpose is to wait