SERVANTS these days just do not know their place, according to the Prince of Wales. He blames the modern education system and the scourge he condemns as “social utopianism”.

The Prince, who clearly knows his place, believes that everyone nowadays wants to be pop stars, high court judges or even heads of state, regardless of a complete lack of talent or experience.

For his part, the Prince does not seem to have learnt that it is not always a good idea to commit one’s innermost thoughts to paper.

His handwritten letter fulminating against the 21st-century social system was read out yesterday at an employment tribunal in Croydon, South London.

“What is wrong with everyone nowadays?” the Prince rants. “Why do they all seem to think they are qualified to do things far beyond their technical capabilities? This is to do with the learning culture in schools as a consequence of child-centred system which admits no failure.”

Getting into his stride, the Prince continues: “People think they can all be pop stars, High Court judges, brilliant TV personalities or infinitely more competent heads of state without ever putting in the necessary work or having natural ability. This is the result of social utopianism which believes humanity can be genetically and socially engineered to contradict the lessons of history.”

The Prince wrote his memo in March 2003 in response to a suggestion by Elaine Day — who worked as his personal assistant for five years — that personal assistants with university degrees should have the chance to train as private secretaries and thus ascend the ladder of the Prince’s household.

Ms Day is claiming at the tribunal that she was hounded from her job at St James’s Palace and sexually discriminated against after complaining that she had been “inappropriately touched” by an assistant private secretary.

The Prince appears to have been terrified of Ms Day and her attitude. His memo, addressed to a more senior member of his household, concludes: “What on earth am I to tell Elaine? She is so PC it frightens me rigid.”

Asked on the first day of the hearing how she felt about the note, Ms Day replied: “He was saying that I was a modern woman who is thinking above her station. I was extremely upset and shocked to see his comments in this regard. I didn’t know quite what he meant. He clearly felt that people should not rise above their station.”

Ms Day was, however, clear about some things. She told the tribunal that the Prince’s household was run in an Edwardian fashion. “Hierarchically elitist, everyone knows their place and if you forget your place, the system will punish you.”

Ms Day, from Belvedere, Kent, joined the Prince’s office in March 1999 and became private secretary to Mark Bolland, then the Prince’s deputy private secretary. She helped to prepare briefings for the Prince’s diary, set up receptions, seminars and dinners, and was even entrusted with doing “recces” in advance of royal engagements.

She also helped Mr Bolland to run the press office, handling media questions about Prince William and Camilla Parker Bowles.

After Mr Bolland left in July 2002 to set up his own PR consultancy, Ms Day said she was appointed secretary to Paul Kefford, an assistant private secretary. But, she told the tribunal, she soon became concerned about Mr Kefford’s behaviour.

“He made me feel extremely uncomfortable by touching me inappropriately. He would frequently approach me from behind while I was filing or photocopying or when I was in the narrow kitchen. He would often put his hand on my back and rub it. He would also touch my arm and shoulders. This would often make me feel uncomfortable.”

Breaking down in tears, Ms Day said that other members of staff had told her that they also felt uncomfortable about Mr Kefford’s manner.

Colleagues had told her that Mr Kefford, who is expected to give evidence today, had a history of similar behaviour in his previous post in the Cabinet Office.

Ms Day complained to her immediate superior and eventually to Sir Michael Peat, the new private secretary.

She told the hearing: “Sir Michael Peat responded, ‘But I thought he was gay’. I informed Sir Michael that I didn’t know whether he was gay or bisexual, but he had certain problems.”

But, according to Ms Day, nothing was done, and she found herself working in what she called “a hostile environment”. She resigned in April this year.

The Royal Household has indicated that it will contest the case. The hearing is expected to last three days.

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