Charles, You’re All That’s Missing

Dear Prince Charles:

Hear you’ve been invited to preside over a Royal Luncheon here May 4 that will celebrate a Guinness world record for the “longest line of Rolls-Royces on a public highway.”

Charles, they’re making plans to parade 500 Rolls-Royces around Fashion Island Newport Beach! The cavalcade will contain automobiles from some of the most prized collections in the world, including 30 pre-World War I designs.

Festivities will include a luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they will auction off luxury cars and exhibit a variety of your watercolors. It’s all for charity; proceeds will benefit your own Charities Trust and several Orange County organizations that assist abused children--including the Marconi Foundation for Kids and the local chapter of Childhelp U.S.A.

So far, there has been no reply from you, say event organizers. Jim Batlle, sales manager of Newport Auto Center, was having a difficult time with this when I visited him the other day.

He chalks up your slow response to England. “It just takes a long time there,” he says.

Is that the reason? Or perhaps you’re a little gunshy about attending social events in the U.S. I remember reading about an embarrassingly low turnout in Newport, R.I., last year for a dinner to benefit one of your favorite charities, the American Friends of the Mary Rose.

But that’s that Newport, Charles. This Newport is known for its esprit de corps. Why, just last fall, more than 1,000 people showed up at a benefit to get a peek at the new Bloomingdale’s department store.

Think of the people who would love to just glimpse the Prince of Wales!

The current record of 154 Rollses-in-a-row was set last year at the Forbes Timberfield estate in New Jersey. That will look like a car rally when this event is in full swing. Organizers, who include John Honeycombe of the Marconi Automotive Museum for Kids in Tustin, have arranged to fly the Silver Ghost from the Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe, England, to lead the parade. Valued at $40 million, it is the world’s most valuable automobile, Honeycombe says. But you knew that.

Think about it, Charles. Reports indicate that people are beginning to think of the-man-who- would-be-king as “the misunderstood prince.” Perhaps a U.S. appearance would be a boon for your image. An event promoting automobiles manufactured in England couldn’t hurt. In fact, Newport Auto Center is having four cars man-

ufactured for this event alone. The automobiles will be auctioned off at the Royal Luncheon.

Let me lay out all of the activities surrounding the Rolls-Royce parade:

* On May 1, a movie premiere (to be announced) will be staged at the Edwards Newport Cinemas at Fashion Island. * May 2 marks a benefit reception at the Marconi Automotive Museum.

* May 3 is a day of special events at Fashion Island, including a Silver Spur Rolls-Royce balancing on a bunch of Wedgwood tea cups. (Imagine!)

* May 4, parade day. A champagne breakfast will be held for all participants, followed by the Royal Luncheon, where, besides the automobiles and one of your lithographs, a trip to the UK will be auctioned off.

Do say yes, Charles. With you on the scene, thousands of sponsorship dollars will likely pour into the event, benefiting charities for children.

We know you’re off to Hong Kong in June to represent the Queen Mum at the hand-over to China.

But please, pop by here first.