But I can’t help feeling that throwing his lot in with the Tories could prove to be a disappointment. At the very least, his latest project with former Tory environment supremo John Gummer won’t impress accountants.

Last week the two launched the Conservatives’ well-intentioned Quality of Life commission with a demand that big business post their big bad carbon emissions in their annual reports.

Can’t fault that. Except that the idea is arriving a little late to the party (whatever its political hue). It’s lacking a bit of info, too. What companies really need is a means, and a method, by which they can report. Otherwise results will hardly be comparable and end up meaningless. Enter stage left (no, really) Prince Charles and Sir Michael Peat who have together established that very thing ­ a project to produce a green reporting standard.

Now, that doesn’t mean anyone will use it. Formulating the details of how it will work is only part of the hard work. A project of persuasion will follow. But making the demand before a viable methodology is in place is sliding the cart well and truly before the horse. With HRH’s project complete, apologists will have nowhere to hide and will be unable to claim they have no technical means to report their emissions. Doing things this way round makes sense and is frankly a tribute to Sir Michael’s thinking.

Nor does it place the issue under a political banner ­ something that big business would be a little uncomfortable with. Besides, who would you rather spend lunch with discussing the issue? Zac and John, or HRH?

Gavin Hinks is editor of Accountancy Age