I too am sick and tired of this playground bullshit that 'they look ugly' - especially tedious from women's magazines - they look fine, they're both in their 50s after all, and it shouldn't matter if they they are ugly as sin.
I have three main problems with the Monarchy - 1. Women must have the same right to the throne as men (and most of our really great monarchs have been and are women). 2 In a multi-cultural society the monarchy should not be associated with only one religion - sounds like Charles is going to fix that. 3 I would like to lose a lot of the raggle-taggle of minor royals - actually not execute them or anything - but make sure that the taxpayer doesn't pay a penny for them. Otherwise I think the institution is a lot of fun and works well compared to the rest of the world. Republicans are fond of saying that it's 'outdated', 'archaic' etc, but this is not a convincing argument.
Peter k - I log on to the internet for about an hour, max in the early mornings, hope that's OK with you. I am obliged to McGrath for posting a picture of the MONSTROSITY that was going to be the National Gallery extension, including the symbolic phallus that most modern architects seem incapable of doing without - never seen it before - thank the gods for Prince Charles if he helped to get the present harmonious and graceful building preferred. You're not a frustrated architect are you?