Kerre Woodham: We are not amused

Life is sweet if you're a first division winner in genetic Lotto. If you're born to very rich and privileged parents, you've got it made.

Yet to observe the antics of some of the more famous rich kids in the media, you'd think they'd been cursed by a wicked godmother who hadn't been invited to the christening. Prince Harry, for example.

He's all over the British papers this week because one of his mates sold a photo of him at a fancy dress party, wearing a faux Nazi uniform. I hope he didn't pay the hireage fee for it, because a) it looked a bit manky, and b) I'm sure if he'd rooted around in great-great uncle Eddy's wardrobe he'd have found the genuine article. Hooray, Harry has apologised and called it a very bad mistake and is sorry for any offence caused.

It's not the first time that the young man has stuffed up. He's been caught drinking and smoking dope; he was involved in a scuffle with photographers outside a nightclub; and there was a suggestion from one of his teachers that his marks had been massaged to allow him to enter military school.

Royal apologists reckon he's "a messed up kid" who should be left alone, and allowed to move on. And yes, the death of his mother, the sainted Diana, would have been very difficult for him, and true, people don't always make the best decisions when they're as thick as a good seafood chowder.

But this is a boy who has highly paid advisors. He must know by now that he's not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but thanks to the circumstances of his birth, he doesn't even have to think for himself. Daddy's hired people to do that for him. And therein lies the problem.

While he's sucking off the public tit, the public have a legitimate interest in his goings on. I'm quite sure if he eschewed all of the privileges that being born into the Royal Family bestows upon an individual, he would be left in relative peace and quiet.

Don't get me wrong - if Harry had been spoofing the costume, it wouldn't have been so bad. A Nazi cap and leather jacket, teamed with fishnet tights and high heels perhaps.

And judging from the stories, I have no doubt he'd have found the stocking and the stilettos in the great-great unc's wardrobe too.

But Harry's crime is that he appeared to be wearing the uniform of the Afrika Korps with no sense of humour. There seemed to be nothing fancy about the dress.

Its hard to top the theme of the party for bad taste - colonials and natives, apparently - but Harry did it, and now the republican papers are baying for his blood. This being the silly season, and Kimberly Quinn being in no position to shag anyone for at least the next couple of months as the birth of her second child is imminent, the story of Harry's latest gaffe will be in the papers for months. This poor little rich prince might think his life is tough. He might genuinely believe that he's hard done by because ghastly proles have a prurient fascination with his life. But his life is tough becausehe's stupid. And his stupidity is compounded by his self obsession, and his arrogance.

If he took some of the advice he was given, or if he got a job, or ifhe even enjoyed the fabulousness of his lifestyle in an ostentatious outrageous fashion a la Paris Hilton, he could be forgiven.

But if Prince Harry continues down the road he's travelling, he might find the public will declare the party over for Harry and for the rest of the Windsor family.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY