With Catherine Mayer’s biography about him being serialised in The Times, probably the last thing Prince Charles wants to do is learn about publishing, particularly newspapers. But he proved a dab hand at printing during a visit to the St Bride Foundation near Fleet Street on Thursday. The heir to the throne was shown a number of old printing presses and what is thought to be the last hot metal edition of The Guardian from 29 June 1987, in the years when Monkey was just a twinkle in some designer’s eye and the Prince had yet to write his so-called “black spider memos” to ministers which The Guardian is battling to have released. Aaanyway, Charles was then given a chance to use a 16th century wooden press and created a printed alphabet designed by the painter and printer, Albrecht Durer. A bunch of bananas to former Fleet Street compositor, Mick Clayton, who helped the prince with the press, but made him laugh by asking: “Can I check your union card first?” Ba-doom tish!
