Princess Marie of Romania, no less, was organising press coverage for the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, when he was photographed in New York last week for Reflect 2000, a millennium charity. Described as "the major photo celebrity project for the millennium", it aims "to humanise our idols and icons". The daughter of the exiled King Michael of Romania works for the Saxton Group which handles the PR for Reflect 2000 and the Taoiseach dropped into the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to become one of the "300 dignitaries and celebrities to create their own self-portraits". He joins an international project which, the princess says, "includes royalty, presidents, prime ministers, actors, musicians, artists, religious leaders".
Bertie was required to step into a booth, adjust the cameras and take his own picture. He also had to speak briefly on a "significant moment" in his life and his hopes and aspirations for the millennium. The results of the Project will end up in a book which will raise up to $100 million for worthy causes including Unicef.
Others who have been asked to snap themselves and contribute their few words include David Trimble ("The millennium is merely a date. People are what count") F.W. de Klerk, ("There is much to be done . . .") Sir Edmund Hillary, ("We will meet every challenge and achieve every goal") Edna O'Brien, who quoted Joyce, and showbiz stars Kylie Minogue ("It's all about love"); Boy George ("Eat less meat") and Sting ("Another 1000 years").
And what did our Bertie, who hosted a very successful ($10,000 a plate) FF fundraising dinner for a select group of 14 in the 21 Club, contribute? His press people say he wrote: "Remembering the Christian message of the millennium I would long for peace in Ireland and continuation of our successful development."