27 AUGUST 1994, Page 25

Scoop

Sir: lf, as Francis Wheen maintains (Books, 6 August), Barbara Cartland is the step- mother-in-law of a princess, and the princess in question is the Princess of Wales (who else could it be?), then Dame Barbara is the secret bigamous second wife of the Duke of Edinburgh. Now that would be a story.

Gordon Pringle

5 Boscombe Road, London W12