It’s almost as if, in vanity, you’re basking in reflected glory for being in the presence of a well-known, popular personality.
Please excuse my owning up to once being in the same room as an infamous person who has of late been hogging the front pages of our national press and the television new headlines.
Many years ago, I covered a visit by the then HRH Duke of York, titles he has since deservedly lost the use of, to Taunton’s UK Hydrographic Office.
I remember commenting at the time to a fellow hack that Yorkie seemed disinterested, bored and was probably dreaming of being elsewhere swinging a golf club on some lush green.
We’ve hardly been able to turn on the box or glimpse the stacks of newspapers in the shops without discovering the latest reports of indiscretions of Andrew Windsor – I refuse to use the ‘P’ title he is still undeservedly able to boast.
I imagine there’s more to come.
Talk about having it all and throwing it away.
As the late Queen’s second son, he was born sucking on a silver spoon.
The moniker Randy Andy was one of the few things he actually earned before receiving admiration for his courage in flying helicopters under enemy fire during the Falklands War.
After that, it all turned sour.
His nickname was converted to Air Miles Andy as it emerged he often flew off to play golf, allegedly at taxpayer expense.
A number of rich men were only too pleased to act as a meal ticket.
As he felt more and more entitled, he descended into his own Slough of Despond.
Of course his seedy, scandalous lifestyle was going to catch up with him at some stage.
How to head it off, according to the Gospel of Andrew, was deny everything.
Not blessed with huge dollops of brain matter, the lies were easily found out.
Not only has he caused immense damage to our Royal Family, he has also exposed our country to worldwide ridicule and condemnation.
Does all but exiling him sound like kicking a man when he’s done?
Certainly, but why not?
There would be a lengthy queue of people lacing up their steel-capped boots eager to deliver the first punt.