William Wales Reporting

News job plan for real royal reporter - a headline from today's "The Age". Work experience for Prince William in the armed forces may be followed by some fourth estate experience in the newsroom next year.

Of the British papers, it appears the "Daily Mail" has some rather prickly views of William's father, Prince Charles; "The Independent" and "Financial Times" sidestep the royal arena. Prince Charles' press officer edits "The Times" and"The Daily Telegraph". That leaves "The Guardian" without some royal connection or disconnection.

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But I wonder, are the royal groomers perhaps looking too close to home? If royal schooling is iced with a "Down Under" experience - at Timbertop for Prince Charles - why not give work experience a royal flush Down Under??

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Agreed, royalty and its trappings are not held in high esteem in Australia. But conversely, neither is royalty completely dismissed as an oddity either. After all, we have followed closely in the footsteps of our own Tasmanian Mary uplifted to Princess of Denmark. She is a pretty headliner in the news that we love to follow. We may not like the British royal rule of our country, but we still like to watch the growing years of Princes William and Harry. We all adored their mother Diana. It is as if we like to keep a motherly eye on her children for her.

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In that spirit, I believe we would welcome William Wales, reporter. He would find a greater media comfort zone here than back home in London. We would enjoy firstly his youthful views which happen to be, secondly, from a royal perspective. And all the time, we could not help but see Diana in him.

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Further, it would give Prince William some breathing space from the British media. Maybe distance may make the media heart grow fonder and a little more tolerant?

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Now, I wonder which newspaper? Perhaps "The Australian" may be the politically correct choice! It is a national voice! I can see it now: "Prince Will Wire Home"!