IF Prince Charles and Camilla are booked in at Bishopthorpe Palace for Royal Ascot, as rumours suggest, one tiny detail may have been overlooked.

Every time the heir and his duchess trip in or out of the ancient house they will be reminded of his first wife.

It was in June 1998 when children from Bishopthorpe Infant School planted a memorial garden to the late Diana in the palace grounds. Found immediately on your left as you approach the ancient hall, it has been enjoyed by villagers and visitors ever since.

The plaque reads simply: "Diana, Princess of Wales, In Memoriam".

Talk of Charles and his new missus taking up residence in the vacant archbishop's residence for Ascot week has led to fears that the Diana garden will be covered over or its purpose obscured to save royal blushes.

So the Diary checked with the palace. (Not Buckingham but Bishopthorpe.)

"There are no plans to do anything with it except put summer bedding plants in it as we do this time every year," said Bishopthorpe Palace manager Mary Murray.

Diana's patch is very popular with visitors, she said.

"That's the public area of the palace. They come and sit there and have picnics and things."

What about the plaque? Will it be uprooted for a week? "As far as I know, there are no plans to get rid of it, not for any reason."

Last summer the garden was a riot of colourful fuchsias and busy lizzies. The palace's gardener was buying this summer's blooms on Wednesday. So is the garden to be as vibrant as ever?

"It had better be," joked Mrs Murray. "He's got his orders!"

THIS month marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of Spanish In The Pub. Language expert Alison Hayes' pre-holiday tutorials have proved enduringly popular.

The 2005 sessions take place at the Red Lion pub in Merchantgate, York, on June 14. Holiday Spanish runs from 7.30pm to 8.45pm and Beginners' Conversation takes place from 8.45pm-10pm. The six-week sessions costs £18, even if you go to both.

Now Alison has started a website and newsletter to encourage folk to keep up the skills they learned over a pint.

Called Motivation! the newsletter contains learning tips and practical advice for students of Spanish.

The website is: www.tailormadelanguages.com and anyone who wants to inquire about Spanish In The Pub or the newsletter can contact Alison on info@tailormadelanguages.com or call (01904) 631050.

AS we are sure you know, we are in the middle of the four-week Yorkshire Lobster Festival.

The Diary eats little else. But we have some lobster facts to lob your way courtesy of the Rarity steak and seafood restaurant on George Hudson Street, York.

A lobster's teeth are in its stomach

They can live to nearly 100 years old (unless they are caught and cooked)

They can grow to three feet long.

And here is an additional fact gleaned from a very informative woman we met at The Deep, the underwater attraction in Hull. To attract a mate, the male lobster users his pincers to snip off one of the eyes of the girl he fancies.

Now what would Germaine Greer make of that?

Updated: 09:03 Friday, June 03, 2005