0348 Me, Royalty And Fame

I didn't wave anything at the Queen when I saw her leaving an official reception sitting bolt upright in the car, still, pale, exhausted, on her way to the next engagement of the five or so that day. I didn't say much to the Queen Mum when presented to her - some people chat with royalty when introduced like old friends; others, even the most anti-monarchical turn to idiot jelly. But she sure was good in dealing with it. A pro to her fingertips. I didn't say anything to Prince Charles when he opened an exhibition that he and I had an interest in; but I'm proud to say we pushed the greatest man in the room into the receiving line which otherwise he would not have sought. I didn't say anything to Princess Diana when at a reception I saw she'd spotted the big red badge I'd been given and wore proudly - 'One of the nice things about New York'; I felt a fraud and slunk away. I didn't say anything to the Prime Minister when he invited me for tea - the invitation got mislaid. I didn't say anything to John and Yoko when I met them at her first art exhibition - since just looking is what art is for. I didn't say anything to the Rolling Stones when there they were sitting in a line in the sunlight on the wall outside the National Gallery before they were screaming-famous. I didn't say much to Andy Warhol since my question seemed to knock him backwards - he leaned back, shrugged and said weakly 'It seemed a good idea at the time...' then his minders hustled him on through the Andy Andy. I didn't say much to Gloria Swanson when some upmarket con unexpectedly put me on the telephone to her about her sculpture. I didn't say anything to Marianne Faithfull when she came in to the shop - I was downstairs typing invoices at the time. I didn't say anything to William Burroughs when he was living in the flat above - he didn't seem to want to talk. I didn't say much to the Canadian Prime Minister sitting next to him at that lavish banquet - they'd changed Prime Ministers from the swinging one between the invitation and the banquet. And that's about it, really. The rest of the time you can't stop me talking.