THEY say that we get the media we deserve. If that is the case, then we must be a pretty undeserving nation. The stories that the print and visual media have led with over the last couple of weeks are a sorry indication of the health of the third estate.

The Queen's eldest grandson has broken up with his girl friend. Okay.

Leaving aside the inescapable conclusion that the girl has had a lucky escape, as the failure rate for marriages in that particular family is probably higher than the national average, is the fact really worthy of more than a mention at the bottom of page five?

Are we really going to have to endure endless pictures of the lucky escapee for the rest of the summer?

And are we to look forward to insider stories and endless speculation during the course of the next dozen or so relationships that a young man might reasonably be expected to have over the next decade with, in his case, yet more pin-ups from Tatler and Country Life?

The other headline grabber, despite the implicit irony, is the castigation of everyone involved, right up to the Army Minister and probably that nice Mr Blair, in allowing a couple of the sailors captured by the Iranians to talk about their ordeal to the - erm - media, for money. Shock, horror!

Although, dear reader, you may be staggered to learn this, I have myself in the past on occasion been briefly besieged by the national media in search of a story.

I discovered then that the best way to defuse the situation was to sell the story that they were all after to one paper (with copy approval), thereby removing the insistent pressure, which can simply be overwhelming for those unused to it (like girlfriends of princes).

It may not have been a wise decision in the case of those advising the servicemen, but I don't begrudge them their bonus and I hope we're not going to be discussing it for the next month or giving more airtime to opposition politicians demanding endless judicial reviews.

Maybe the tide will turn - or am I being naively optimistic?

I had the distinct impression that some of the television news presenters in particular were looking somewhat unenthusiastic about some of the recent prince-watching items.

But then I listen to radio phone-ins and realise that sadly the media do reflect the public they serve.