All Greek To Me

I was watching some TV late last night and caught part of the Karl Pilkington travel programme - An Idiot Abroad.

Now sometimes this is schoolboy humour at its worst.

But at other times it can be entertaining and even fascinating - as the professional 'big Jessie' Karl is sent to weird and occasionally wonderful locations - by his two tormentors, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

And last night was one such occasion - as Karl landed on the south sea island of Tanna in Vanuata.

Where the local Yaohnanen tribe believe that the Royal Consort of Her Madge the Queen -  none other than curmudgeonly old Prince Philip - is a divine being.

Apparently the Yaohnanen tribe have convinced themselves that Prince Philip - the Duke of Edinburgh is descended from a mountain spirit and according to ancient folklore - he travelled across the oceans to a distant land - where he married a powerful woman.

So far so good - and spookily accurate, you have to admit - because Prince Philip is actually Greek by birth, if I remember correctly. 

Anyway, back to the Yaohnanen tribe - who believe that the male descendant of this mountain spirit would return in time.

Which Prince Philip duly did on a royal visit to Vanuatu in 1974.

So now Prince Philip is officially a God - with his pictures on display around the Yaohnanen village - a very nice touch which must have made Karl Pilkington feel very much at home.

But before anyone laughs or sniggers at the religious beliefs of the these south sea islanders - I'd just like to say they're not any crazier - to my mind anyway - than the Book of Mormon or the Bible.

And the good thing about the Yaohnanen tribe is - they don't seem to feel the need to force their beliefs on anyone else.

Now that I admire - even if I will never put Prince Philip on a pedestal, religious or otherwise.