Waching daily Jan 29 2018

No one is happier to see the back of 2017 than Prince Charles - a year when he was virtually written out of the royal script as his sons marked the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana 's death and paid lavish tribute to their mother.

As numerous TV documentaries either ignored the Prince of Wales's part in the tragedy or reduced it to that of villain of the piece, a series of bruising opinion polls showed his popularity was flagging.

One that only one-third of Britons believe the Prince had been beneficial for the Monarchy - down from nearly two-thirds four years earlier

A quarter believed that Charles had had a negative impact on the Royal Family, compared with a sixth in 2013

Fewer than one in ten thought his influence very positive.

In contrast, almost half of those polled considered that Prince William had had a 'very positive' influence on the monarchy.

How crucial, therefore, 2018 will be for the Prince of Wales

Yet while undoubtedly relieved that interest in Diana will drift away for now, Charles knows that he will not have the stage and the spotlight to himself.

Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in May, the arrival of William and Kate's third child in April, and the 65th anniversary of the Queen's coronation in June will all be significant and hugely popular royal events.

In November, Prince Charles has his own landmark - his 70th birthday

And had things turned out differently, it might have been Charles rather than his younger son who would have been beginning the New Year basking in the goodwill of the public.

Harry was garlanded with praise for his recent guest editorship of Radio 4's Today programme, where his interviewees included his father and Barack Obama.

History may well note his decision to participate in BBC Radio's flagship current affairs programme as the moment that Harry finally shed what is left of his playboy prince reputation

It is unlikely, though, to record the events preceding it.

The origins of Harry's appearance go back to early last summer when he received an invitation to be one of several celebrity guests who 'edit' the programme between Christmas and New Year.

I can reveal that when he did not immediately commit to the project, Today executives turned instead to Prince Charles, who readily agreed

However, mindful perhaps of his sensitive relationship with his sons, Charles insisted that Harry was kept informed about what was going on.

Quite what happened next is unclear, but abruptly Harry's diary became freer and he accepted the Today offer, leaving his father no option but to stand aside.

Friends say Charles was 'disappointed' to miss out

The three-hour morning news show would have presented him with a significant national audience to highlight his pet projects.

And this may go some way to explain why Harry chose to include an at times preachy interview with his father about climate change and the environment

However, their encounter was far more revealing - and intriguing - for the light it shone on the relationship between father and son.

Along with a liberal exchange of terms of endearment - 'Pa', 'Dear boy', 'Darling boy' - what emerged was a depth of affection that's all too rarely seen between Charles and his younger son.

Charles has always worried more about Harry than William; and, of course, has at times been troubled more by him, too

But ever since Diana's death, their relationship has been stronger than that between him and William.

William has always been more independent of Charles's influence and has modelled himself far more on his grandmother than his father

Friends say William will never be a 'meddling prince' in the mould of Prince Charles.

At the height of the Diana commemorations, it was Harry rather than William who offered his father some public acknowledgement

Recalling the aftermath of their mother's death in a TV interview, he praised Charles for his support.

'One of the hardest things