Endorsing the Euro

Date: 11/01/1996

It is hard to imagine the British heir to the throne embarking on a promotional tour for economic and monetary union, but the notion of Prince Charles waving the flag for the Euro was put forward as a serious idea during the planning stages for the 22 January Single Currency Round Table.

He'd hardly be the ideal candidate - how can a chap who never carries cash expound on the need to introduce banknotes as soon as possible in stage three? Still, you can hardly blame the Prince for shunning currency: wouldn't we all if our mums popped out of our pockets on every note and coin?

A more obvious guest to invite to the Round Table was Gary Lineker, the former England footballer turned television pundit. His name was put forward too as a participant in the big kick-off for the campaign to make the Euro loved by every EU citizen. “These names were raised at an early stage,” confirmed one official. “But it was a flexible procedure that led to the final list.” Despite their crowd-drawing potential - big box-office appeal in the technical jargon - the future king and the former soccer star were dropped in favour of people “who have some reason to be interested in the single currency issue”.

How about the surviving Great Train Robbers? Nick Leeson? Or Madonna could release her hit single 'I'm a Single (currency) Girl'.