June 10, 2011
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| Image: Rex Features |
The Duke of Edinburgh has just turned 90, although one could be forgiven for thinking he’s been in his 90s for the past fifty years - an admirable trait in Guru’s view.
The prince - a leading authority on economics (“Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed.”), sex (“You are a woman aren’t you?”) and, of course, race (“Aren’t most of you descended from pirates?”) - has now lent his considerable mind to the problems of employment law.
Speaking on his 90th birthday, the prince said, “There is an ageism in this country, as everywhere, and quite rightly so, because I think you go down hill, physically, mentally and everything”. The prince added that it is “better to get out before you reach the sell-by date”. Guru wonders why the Governments ignored these views in rashly forging ahead with its plans to repeal the default retirement age, and asks if it’s not too late to reinstate it.
The prince also shared details of the induction process he underwent after securing his job of being married to a woman who lives in a palace, “There was no precedent. If I asked somebody, ‘What do you expect me to do?’ they all looked blank; they had no idea, nobody had much idea.” When the prince has managed to cope without a 300-page document detailing his duties as Royal Spousal Strategic Relations Manager, Guru wonders why his acquaintances in HR make such a fuss about thorough induction of new recruits. “A thorough induction to the organisation, department, job and the people the new employee will work alongside is essential if the person is to become an effective and motivated member of the team…” they say, as Guru nods off
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