Turns out, it's not quite that simple if the guy happens to be His Royal Highness Prince Philip.

The Duke of Edinburgh spent part of his 88th birthday hosting our group of 70 international travel journalists at a Buckingham Palace reception, promoting Britain's tourism industry.

According to the British media, I caused a "moment of embarrassment for the prince..." simply by handing His Royal Highness a birthday card. We're not talking headlines like Michelle Obama got when she hugged the Queen during her recent visit to Buckingham Palace. It was still a surprise for me to see stories claiming the Duke of Edinburgh, "seemed mortified when he was handed a birthday card (by Canadian journalist Janie Robinson)."

For sure, there was a moment of awkwardness when after graciously thanking me for my card, Prince Philip couldn't locate the royal aide who is usually at his side to collect such gifts, as the prince carries on greeting his guests.

"Would you like me to hold the card for you, Sir?" I asked, taking back my birthday token until the prince's press officer came to get it.

Was the card-giving a royal protocol faux pas on my part?

"It wasn't a problem at all for you to give the card to His Royal Highness," says Meryl Keeling, a member of the Buckingham Palace Press Office passing my birthday card along to the duke's Equerry-in-Waiting.

"Originally an equerry was the person in charge of the horses for princes or nobles," explains Richard Maundrell, a major in The Grenadier Guards and currently equerry to Prince Philip.

"These days, part of my work as a personal attendant, is holding the gifts given HRH during official engagements, so they don't pile-up in his hands," assuring me that my card was a "lovely gesture and would certainly get back to the prince."

The last time Prince Philip hosted a similar royal reception at Buckingham Palace was to boost British tourism during the foot-and-mouth outbreaks in 2001.

"We're thrilled that The Duke of Edinburgh is able to help us once again remind the world of some of the unique appeals of Britain", says Sandie Dawe, chief executive of VisitBritain. "The economic downturn is affecting global travel but Britain has never been more affordable than now, as a weaker pound means great exchange rates, along with great value flights and accommodation deals."

From a romantic champagne flight on the London Eye, and luxury hotels for less, to celebrating Scotland's 2009 Homecoming in Michelin-starred style, there are many ways, you too can get the royal treatment in Britain this year.

The bagpipes wheeze closed as the piper jangles his way up the street from a prime busker spot near the Royal Mile, to check out the lobby of Edinburgh's brand-new Hotel Missoni.

"It looks great. I think it's exciting to have something like this here in stodgy-old Edinburgh," he says, turning with a flip of his kilt to pipe more pence from passersby.

The vibrant Italian fashion fantasyland is hard not to notice in the middle of traditional Scotland. Two towering mosaic urns – with trademark Missoni zigzags – flank the hotel's front foyer, leaving tartans and bagpipes at the door.

The brand-new luxury hotel on Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile joins the growing trend of hotels owned by fashion houses – Scotland's being the first in an international chain of 30 glamorous Missoni Italian fashion hotels planned over the next 10 years, with Kuwait City being the next location.

A chrome and flamingo-pink bar welcomes guests at the front door, with bold black and white sofas, and colour splashed everywhere. Gleaming black Ladder-back chairs, made famous by Scotland's Charles Rennie Mackintosh, grace bold red tables in the lobby.

"Don't you think the front desk looks like something from the Starship Enterprise?" asks receptionist Jana Uhlig from behind the shiny crescent counter draped in shimmering cotton strands.

The same bright funky fashion patterns fill each of the hotel's 136 rooms, where luxury bathrooms include Missoni scented products and coveted robes.

Romantic little corner-room 507 is a hidden gem, offering the same stunning views as the seven suites on the top floor of this renowned Edinburgh address, but without the higher price-tag.

This brand-new fashion hotel opens just in time for Homecoming Scotland 2009 – a celebration of Scotland's culture and history on this 250th anniversary of Robert Burns.

More than 25 million people around the globe claim Scots ancestry. My own Scottish ancestors come from Dumfriesshire – the Graham clan lived in the lowlands near the English border, before coming to Canada in 1853, and settling near Elmvale, Ontario on a farm that is still in the family today.

Canadians can head to Scotland in style this year, thanks to an excellent exchange rate not seen in a generation, and luxury travel luring us to sample specials at high-end hotels and restaurants that are usually way beyond my "frugal Scots" travel budget.

Traditionally, few Edinburgh visitors find their way down to once gritty and notorious Leith. But now "the docks" are home to some of the capital city's best restaurants – with three Michelin-starred restaurants within 500 metres of each other, in fact.

Along the cobbled pedestrian Commercial Quay, Tom Kitchin's Michelin restaurant – aptly named The Kitchin – is one of several fine-dining options housed in a former whisky distillery along a narrow canal, in this once bustling harbour of the port of Edinburgh.

"There's been lots of talk about Leith becoming Edinburgh's diningout area and losing its Trainspotting reputation (referring to the book and movie depicting Leith as a seedy, drugriddled seaport)," says Michelin star chef Kitchin, from his popular place along this stretch of international eateries that could easily be labelled ‘Restaurant Row'.

A sunny, afternoon stroll along The Shore brings Leith's seafaring history to life, with pubs and restaurants spilling out along the tenement-lined cobbled street.

The historic Malmaison Hotel on The Shore has been a seamen's mission and even a house of ill-repute. Now that the "working girls" and sailors have moved on, the luxury riverside hotel attracts a far more salubrious crowd.

It's a "buyers market" for travellers throughout Britain – in fact, travel just about any place in the world is from 30% to 50% more affordable than last year. And that includes luxury travel.

In London, where pre-theatre, prixfixe menus and fine-dining lunches have long been the foodie secret to "dining on a dime;" Michelin-starred restaurants and exclusive five-star dining are now just a fraction of the price as well.

Tom Aikens, and Axis at One Aldwych, are two exclusive fine-dining experiences now offering special deals on the UK's Toptable.com restaurant search site.

Rates at luxury London hotels have rarely been this low. Claridge's has a weekend package, with accommodations half the regular price at $547, including a bottle of champagne and traditional English breakfast. A family package at The Connaught has two double rooms for the price of one – a savings of at least $1,000 per night.

Online travel auctions can save you a small fortune too. Luxury Link comes highly recommended, offering various types of auctions as well as specially priced travel packages – from meals to massages – at prices you would normally pay for a just a room.

These days, with British hoteliers anxious to woo visitors, grabbing a travel bargain can be as simple as picking up the phone and calling the hotel to barter for their best rate. SLM

Janie's Travel Notes

My trip to Britain was subsidized by VisitBritain and British Airways. VisitBritain has a "Check out Great Deals" link online at www.visitbritain. ca. Find out about British Airways new Club World service at www.britishairways.com/travel/cwexp/public/en_gb. Visitors can tour the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in August and September. Admission prices and booking details available at www.royalcollection.org.uk

Scotland celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns all this year during Homecoming Scotland 2009. Special events and festival schedules are at www.homecomingscotland.com Edinburgh's Hotel Missoni offers doubles from £180, including breakfast and free mini bar. www.hotelmissoni. com.

Learn all about Tom Kitchin's "from nature to plate" mantra at his Michelinstarred restaurant www.thekitchin.com. For 2009 fall deals at Malmaison Hotel go to www.malmaison.com/promotions?hotel=Edinburgh

Toptable restaurant reviews are searchable by London neighbourhood and UK city at www.toptable.com There's no fee to register with Luxury Link but each transaction will cost $40 U.S. Details by calling 1-888-297-3299 or online at www.luxurylink.com.