Prince Andrew popped down to the shops yesterday, surprising many customers in Tesco's Clare Hall store on the Malahide Road.
Particularly surprised was the woman in the pink pyjama bottoms who didn't anticipate bumping into the Duke of York as she did her Monday morning shopping.
But the prince was not there to avail of the 20 per cent discount on farmed salmon darnes. The duke was on a one-day tour of Dublin as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment.
He may have been delivering news about trade but he could have been delivering Rachel Grant's baby if the excitement got too much for her.
She was doing her last-minute shopping before going into hospital today to have her baby. "I don't think he would bring on the labour," she said. "If it was George Michael I might go into labour but not Prince Andrew."
But many other women were prepared to swoon at his highly polished shoes.
"Get in and start shopping," Prince Andrew quipped to a woman who cheekily replied: "You're much better looking than shopping."
The duke's Irish visit started earlier when he paid a courtesy call to President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin.
"Lovely to see you, far too long, far too long [since our last meeting]," he murmured as they shook hands. They had a private meeting where they talked about the good relationship between this State and Britain and the increasing two-way trade that is now worth €33 billion a year. No mention of the queen coming to tea, then? "No, there wasn't any discussion of a possible visit," the President's spokeswoman said.
The cavalcade then headed to Tesco where all eyes were on the meat counter. Butcher Nigel Comerford was ready to offer Prince Andrew some cooked black and white pudding. However, after hovering briefly over the meat display, the prince was whisked off to the chilled foods aisle. "What about the pudding?" a photographer cried forlornly, but the moment had passed.
The media was told not to ask any questions but Newstalk reporter Niamh Lyons from the Lunchtime show evaded the duke's army of protectors and got her microphone under the royal nose. "Have you eaten any turkey burgers since you arrived?" she asked, her mind clearly on the bird flu crisis. But he merely smiled and moved on.
Turkey burgers were definitely not on the menu at the Berkeley Court where Prince Andrew had lunch with business leaders and Michael Ahern, Minister of State for Enterprise. He then called to Airtricity headquarters in Sandyford. The renewable energy company is a major investor in the UK sector. The duke praised the progress made by Airtricity and spoke of the great potential for renewable energy. Receptionist Jill Clancy Haughton was bowled over by Prince Andrew's charm.
"He was so nice and he said, 'The most important person is the lady at the front desk'," she recalled happily afterwards. "Oh, he's a charmer all right. We should remind Fergie what she's missing."
Prince Andrew also paid a courtesy call to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and finished his visit with a dinner hosted by British ambassador David Reddaway.
