Prince Charles' climate change lullaby

By Martin Banks - 9th February 2011

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The visit of Britain's prince Charles to the European parliament on Wednesday was described as "inspired" by commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, but does not appear to have enraptured everyone.

As Charles ruminated on how best to tackle climate change (note the absence of any reference here to "global warming"), at least two MEPs (who shall remain nameless) were spotted fast asleep in the main debating chamber.

Their blushes were only spared when colleagues sitting nearby gave them a gentle prod to rouse them from their slumbers.

Maybe it was the fact that Charles' speech seriously overran the expected 15 minutes. Or, maybe, his delivery simply left them a tad underwhelmed.

Even an arch nationalist like Nick Griffin, the BNP deputy, admitted later, "The issues he was talking about are important, but, yes, I have to say it was all a bit dull."

Whatever the merits of his speech, the security surrounding his visit was nothing compared to that taking place 100 metres away in another meeting room.

Gaining entry to the meeting - on the issue of organised crime and the Mafia - was akin to moving through an airport, complete with X-ray machines, baggage checks, and frustration.

Update: Graeme Sweeney, executive vice-president of Shell and chair of the "zero emissions platform" reportedly missed the carbon summit today because he was mugged arriving on the Eurostar at Midi