Future historians of the British royal family’s media policy will probably one day trace the outburst by Prince Harry on Tuesday evening this week, in which he announced a legal challenge against the Mail on Sunday in highly emotional terms, back to a generous offer by Viscount Linley to lend the newly married Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton a villa in the South of France.
It was due to be sold, and Linley, a high-end cabinet maker, offered it free of charge to his cousins for a week.
William and Kate gladly accepted, and, as the happy couple settled down in the Provencal sunshine, Kate slipped off her bikini top.