27 APRIL 1962, Page 8

More About that Luncheon My story about that Oxford luncheon

attended among others by the Queen and the Prime Minister is now beginning to draw around itself the true shimmeringveils of legend. Last week a correspondent from Trinity confirmed that it was there indeed the comic acts took place. This week comes a letter from a far country quoting in turn another letter which confirms the original story but asserting that it happened in Christ Church. There are a few other variants. The very im- portant person was heard to say, not 'Don't look now; I think he's dead,' but more simply, 'I do wish people wouldn't faint in my presence.' The Prime Minister's abrupt descent to the floor came at the conclusion of his speech, whereupon the monarch 'swept out, followed by the Duke, who plaintively murmured to the man next to him : "I haven't even had time to finish my port."' My latest correspondent suggests that someone should make this a subject for his PhD research. For myself, I resolutely refuse to make the tele- phone calls that would clear it up once and for all. It's not every day that one's in at the most crucial stages of a legend's development out of poor old fact into all the splendours of uncer- tainty.