WE have just heard that On The Town will soon have a competitor from across the water, in the robust shape of the Duchess of York. Eyebrows that were raised over her recent coverage of the Paris design shows for Paris Match will rise even higher over her royal Fergy-ness's claims that her column for The New York Times Syndicate will "comment on issues large and small from the perspective of her life unfolding on a global stage".

We will perhaps follow the example of her blue blooded diary - to hit the newstands on April 15th - by devoting the occasional column to answering questions from readers about any topic on which we feel we can "comment authoritatively and forthrightly".