BBC Radio played a journalist’s tape recording of an interview with the Prince of Wales this morning in which he is heard getting very angry over genetically-modified crops (GM).

Jeff Randall of the Telegraph, and formerly the BBC’s Business Editor, interviewed the Prince at the Castle of Mey in Caithness where Charles and Camilla are holidaying.

At one stage Randall asked him why he objects to “large corporations” making the running on GM, since only they can afford the investment for research and development.

Charles replied that large companies are conducting a “gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong. Why else are we facing all these challenges, climate change and everything? That would be the absolute destruction of everything, and the classic way of ensuring there is no food in the future.”

The Prince believes food security should be put above an unregulated race for food production.

He continued with considerable passion, “And if they think it’s somehow going to work because they are going to have one form of clever genetic engineering after another then again count me out, because that will be guaranteed to cause the biggest environmental disaster of all time.”

The phrase “Count me out!” is used at least twice to hammer home his point. Commentators are today speculating precisely what he meant by it.

My personal interpretation is that he means to go on as he has for 40 years, making his case strongly and, as he sees it, non-politically. However, currently he is boycotting the Olympic Games because of China’s activities in Tibet. He also refused to attend a State banquet for the Chinese President in London and met the Dalai Lama openly, flaunting political advice.

Clearly Charles is treading a fine line on these issues now that food and climate change have become hot political topics around the world.

His position could become serious once he is King. Going against the Government of the day on policy would create not just an unseemly row but a major constitutional crisis. Already the usual crew of grumbly Labour backbenchers are feigning outrage at his remarks.

With the phrase “Count me out!” could Charles be signalling that he will not preside over a country that has relinquished its control in these crucial areas to the European Union, which has significantly softened its attitudes to GM crops and research in recent years?

Might he be saying, I just can’t do this job, it would be against all my principles and life’s work?

Or was it just a rush of blood to the head in response to some shoot-from-the-hip questioning?

Jeff Randall’s background to the interview can be read here.

In an interview with Majesty magazine, Zara Phillips reveals she curtseys every time she meets her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Zara collecting her MBE from the Queen in 2006.

“The thing with my grandmother is she is still my grandmother and she’s very approachable, but she’s also from an era where that was how it was done. But there aren’t many people who know how it’s done. I know because I have grown up with it.”

Like many aspects of British life, which traditionally operates on convention rather than prescriptive law, there are disputes and misunderstandings about the proper way to address the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Jo Bryant, an etiquette advisor for Debrett’s says a curtsey for a woman and a bow for a man is still the correct way to greet the Queen. The delightful Zara clearly agrees.

However, Joe Little of Majesty magazine says, “Things are quite a bit more relaxed these days. At one time it was the ‘done thing’ whereas nowadays it is really left to individual discretion.”

The wife of the present Prime Minister, Sarah Brown, reversed the practice of her predecessor — rebel with many causes, Cherie Blair — when she was pointedly seen to curtsey to the Duchess of Cornwall at an international conference.

Men are lucky — bowing is the easy part. The curtsey is the more tricky manoeuvre. Some older women have been known to topple over completely. It really does need some practice.

Method: Put the right foot behind the left foot. Bend the knees maintaining a straight back. It’s probably easier with a loose skirt or gown than a in tight mini.

To see how it’s done by experts, actresses in TV costume dramas are always impeccable. In the BBC’s Wives and Daughters, by Mrs Gaskell, set in Victorian times, the two younger women give deep curtseys to every older person they meet. It’s difficult to imagine modern youngsters having that sort of respect for their elders.

Another great exponent of the curstey is the Welsh opera diva, Katherine Jenkins, who almost sat on the stage with her spectacularly low, slow curtsey to the Queen at the Remembrance concert in the Royal Albert Hall.

Is it possible to revive the practice in the 21st century?

Update: 2.30 BST Buckingham Palace has denied reports in this morning’s London Evening Standard that Prince Philip has prostate cancer. They also denied the Standard’s earlier claim that he had a heart condition.

The BBC’s Royal Editor, Nicholas Witchell, who has just gone to air after a long delay over the story, was distinctly cagey in his language. He said the Palace told him the claims were untrue “as far as they knew.”

Prince Philip, 87, was said to be continuing with his duties after the Evening Standard claimed that tests confirmed he is suffering from prostate cancer.

The tests were said to have been carried out in April, presumably during his stay in hospital for a chest infection. Aides insist he is in “robust health” and will carry on with his duties, despite the heart condition for which he takes daily medication.

The aide reportedly continued, “Despite his heart problems and the cancer, Philip’s in robust health for a man of his age and is determined to plough on. He’s mentally very sharp and he’s always said he’ll continue carrying out his royal duties until he’s physically immobile.

“He is utterly dedicated to the Queen and this country and his role as the effective managing director of the Firm is not in question.”

Yesterday, we reported that the Queen had cleared her diary for the remainder of the Balmoral holiday. The reason given was that Gordon Brown may resign at any moment.

Royal Anecdotes wishes Prince Philip the best of health. We understand this condition is normal in men of his age and has a slow progression rate. In most cases it does not require invasive treatment.