Earlier this year, Prince Charles gained much publicity for his alleged boycott of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Prince Charles, who has in the past criticised the Chinese leadership, is apparently doing so because of his views on China's occupation of Tibet. Fair enough - HRH is entitled to his own views.

Yet, yesterday's Otago Daily Times reported that the Queen's representative in New Zealand, Governor-General Anand Satyanand, will be travelling to Beijing to support the New Zealand team. You've got to laugh at the absurdity of it: the heir to the throne isn't attending, yet our virtual head of State (who is actually New Zealand's head of State but sure acts like it) is on his way.