Prince aides dip into boiled egg story

London, Sept 24: In an unusual move, aides to Britain's Prince Charles denied a report that the heir-to-the-throne's staff have to cook him seven boiled eggs to allow him to choose one with the perfect consistency.

According to BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman's new book ''On Royalty'', Charles enjoys a boiled egg after a day's hunting but he is fussy about how long it is cooked.

''If the Prince felt that number five was too runny, he could knock the top off number six or seven,'' Paxman told yesterday's Guardian newspaper, which is to serialise the book next week.

''The story is not true,'' said a spokesman for Prince Charles, despite Paxman saying the story's source is one of the royal heir's friends.

In the past, Charles has been portrayed by various commentators as a dull, slightly loopy eccentric with a habit of talking to his plants.

REUTERS