19 MAY 2007, Page 24

The fireman prince

Sir: Hugo Rifkind makes an excellent suggestion regarding Prince Harry entering the emergency services (Shared opinion, 5 May). The modern world probably would indeed ‘go nuts’ for a fireman prince as he suggests. And, in fact, there is a royal precedent here. Edward, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a major supporter and active firefighter in the early years of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. His uniform was kept ‘at the ready’ for many years at the Chandos St fire station in Charing Cross. It would be wonderful to have a 21st-century fireman prince, bridging back to royal support in the pioneering days of the fire brigade in the 19th century.

David Morton London W6