In this weekend's Financial Times, the Collecting supplement contained a decent story on the likely changes to laws surrounding the ivory trade. The key focus being upon the laws surrounding the trade of antique ivory, which at present is a very lucrative market.
Besides the fact that it is an interesting story in it's own right, the main interest for me was the publication of
"reports in the British press that Price William had told primatologist Jane Goodall that he wants ivory antiques in the Royal Collection destroyed".
The potential libel suit: what with ol' Willy being claimed to have ordered the destruction of a hugely valuable collection of art, which, in light of the Royal family's request for more money from public coffers last year; or the fact that he recently completed a hunting trip with his brother Harry, should greatly reduce him in the eyes of any right thinking person/anyone who doesn't watch ITV or read the Daily Mail. The Financial Times know their stuff though, legally speaking, and so obviously that isn't the end of the quote:
"...A spokesman for the prince refused to confirm or deny a private conversation."
This fantastically boring little piece of information shows that they have attempted to allow those in question to confirm or deny these claims, protecting the Financial Times on the grounds of balance. Nice.
