It is reported that the self-proclaimed 'de jure King of the Isle of Man' is to launch a new project aimed at helping AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.

American businessman David Drew Howe is supposedly using his titular status as the Island's reigning monarch to try and gain international assistance for his Malawi Missions Project.

Mr Howe says he's a direct descendant of the Stanley family, who ruled the Island under the title hundreds of years ago, as well as being a cousin of Queen Elizabeth the second.

An officially published note of his claim went unchallenged earlier this year so since the end of March Mr Howe has laid claim to the title.

People who want to help with the Malawi Missions Project are directed to his website, royaltyofman.com or his myspace page, myspace.com/royaltyofman