My good friend Bacchus No-Smoke was having a short black at Retro in Salamanca Place, where he heard that HRH Mary will open an exhibition of work by Les Blakebrough at the University of Tasmania’s Plimsoll Gallery when she and Fred are in Hobart.

The State Government, you might recall, bought them a Blakebrough bowl as a wedding present.

Les won’t be fazed by the titles – his step-daughter, Jean Underwood (daughter of the Chief Justice Peter Underwood) married an English Viscount. Viscountess is not a Princess of course, but Bacchus says Les is perfectly happy to bow low to Mary.

The university is keeping a tight grip on Les’ guest list – which does not include some highly respected people in the arts world ….