His illustrious royal predecessor, Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, reputedly burned the cakes.

So when Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, was spotted with "cooking burns" on his left hand during a visit to the North-East yesterday, the question had to be asked. But a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "No, he wasn't baking a cake."

The Earl is used to being in hot water over his controversial former career as a TV film-maker, but this time hot fat appears to have caused the problem.

He suffered the burns cooking steaks for himself and his wife, Sophie.

"It's not serious but it has caused him some discomfort," said the Palace.

It seems Edward gets his fingers - or hand - burned whatever he does.