I often say ‘It can only happen in Wales.’ Well this little story didn’t actually happen in wales, but several Welshmen were certainly involved.

As with so many Welsh stories, you first have to imagine the scene. A carload of slightly inebriated builders were driving past Prince Charles’ estate near Tetbury in 2003 on May the 1st which just happens to be the pagan festival of Beltane. I mention this because it may possibly have a bearing on what happened next.

According to one of the men, "We had a few drinks after work and we were driving home when we passed the entrance to a large estate." Okay, we get the picture. They then drove up a track, parked on the verge, walked about 150 metres and climbed over a four bar metal fence into the estate. So far, so good.

The fact that the estate belonged to the future heir to the throne and nobody seems to have batted an eyelid might be a tad worrying, but we’ll assume that apart from a bit of whispering, these blokes were keeping a low profile.

'We spotted a gazebo at the end of a beautiful tree lined grass walkway that led directly to Highgrove House. We took some photos for a bit of a laugh so I could show my mum because she loves the Royals,’ one of the men explained. Ah, bless. Of course, it still raises the question why none of the security guards (if indeed there are any) didn't notice the odd flash bulb going off in the middle of the night.

It’s the next comment that gets interesting. "We took it in turns for everybody to pose for pictures sitting outside the gazebo and then one of the guys started running around naked." As you do.

In fact, they spent a good half an hour romping (some reports said ‘frolicking’ ) about, stark naked before making off ‘unchallenged’ with a plastic owl.

The choice of words in the report, which you can read for yourself here

http://archive.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/2003/5/7/1712.html

is interesting. Why a plastic owl? I mean, the Prince of Wales is a keen nature boy, you’d think he’d have a couple of real owls on his estate, wouldn’t you? Even we Penrys are host to a number of tawny owls who terrorise the neighbourhood (and are alleged to have made of with Mr Sarcophagus Jones’ toupee – though that’s another story).

The Prince’s spokesman stepped in to correct any false impressions about the said owl. It was apparently not just a plastic owl, it was a bird scarer. So that’s all right then. At a stroke, Prince Charles was immediately cleared of all charges of having really naff taste.

But just who was likely to challenge a thief who made off into the night bearing (in all senses of the word) a plastic owl? And what exactly constitutes a challenge, I wonder? Halt, who goes there. Friend or fowl? (Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself there!)

I suspect Beltane had something to do with the naked romp. It would have been a great defence had it ever got to court, but the police merely cautioned one man and released the others without charge.

You see the trouble I take, dear readers, just to brighten up your day and mine!