A sparky, larky girl who’s fun, br intelligent and flattering, br is, when you’re over sixty-one, br a cause of jealous chattering br if you should spend more time with her br than with a woman who is boring, br material for the ones who ser- br monize and don’t believe in scoring br br Janet Maslin reviews Gyles Bandreth’s Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage (“British Royalty Tell-Not-All Snoops a Little (One Must) , ” in the NY Times, November 10,2005: br br Inevitably, this admiring yet lively book must address what will be a point raised by Prince Philip's obituaries (according to Mr. Brandreth, who has already studied them) : How much of a ladies' man has he been? The author's tactics here are nothing if not resourceful, especially after he tells readers: 'I am going to try to nail the issue once and for all.' br In ensuing pages he incorporates the most outrageous rumors, expresses concern that this may seem exploitative (because it is) , tracks down women with whom Prince Philip has been friendly and defends an older man's need for 'the occasional confidential companionship of a sparky, larky girl who is flattering, intelligent and fun.' He does a fine job of defending the prince's behavior until he brings up Lewis Carroll as another innocent victim of calumny. br In the end, typically, Mr. Brandreth loyally dismisses the matter. He dutifully praises the prince's honor and the queen's understanding nature. And he amusingly thanks 'Mrs. Thompson (the Brandreth family's lone cleaning lady) ' for refusing to tell tales.