Will and Harry Unlimited

...For July 2005

July 31, 2005 -

Duchy estates are our own affair, defiant princes will tell MPs
By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter

Prince William supports his father's determination to resist demands by MPs that he transform the running of the Duchy of Cornwall, the estate that provides the heir to the throne with an income. Senior royal aides say the Prince of Wales intends to consult his elder son - who will one day take over responsibility for the estate - fully before giving a "robust" response in October to a series of controversial recommendations from the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

One senior official at Clarence House said yesterday: "The Prince of Wales not only wants the Duchy of Cornwall to be passed on to Prince William in a sound condition, but also that it continues to be run in the same way that it successfully operates today. Prince William is keen on that too: he is backing his father all the way on this issue."

The aide disclosed that part of Prince William's work experience this autumn has been geared to preparing him for the day when he will run the duchy. "During his time carrying out work experience in the City, Prince William will learn a whole range of skills which will equip him better for his future role," he said. Prince Charles and his senior- aides at Clarence House have been infuriated by the findings of the all-party PAC, which they see as dominated by Left-wing, pro-republican Labour MPs out to score political points at the expense of the monarchy. They say that Prince Charles has been a victim of his own business success - if he ran the Duchy of Cornwall badly and without profit he would be criticised; yet, by running it successfully, he faces criticism that it is too profitable. Prince William's support for his father's resistance to the PAC recommendations was revealed yesterday as senior aides also disclosed that another of the Prince's business initiatives has been adopted by senior businessmen. Business in the Community, one of the Prince of Wales's 14 charities, started the Affordable Rural Housing Initiative in 2003, whereby the private sector has been encouraged to make some money and help the community by providing space for affordable housing. It has been so successful that Northumbrian Water has been enthused by the scheme and John Cuthbert, its managing director, has invited representatives from all 25 water companies to a meeting in October to encourage them to use hundreds of acres of surplus land for the Prince's scheme.

Libby Sandbrook, the director of the Affordable Rural Housing Initiative, said: "The Prince has been very hands-on and is determined to make companies aware of the opportunities that are available to them."

Prince Charles's business ethic is based on what some observers call "green capitalism": he wants to show that it is possible to make money but also to act in a responsible and considerate way. Senior royal officials believe the Prince should be hailed for his business talents and his innovate ideas - not burdened with unfair and ill-informed attacks. "The duchy is a success story which should be praised, not criticised," said one. Aides say that the Prince has had no particular mentor in the business world, but instead is motivated by a sense of duty and a desire to make a difference in people's lives. Prince Charles has close links with the world of business, and businessmen he knows and admires include Sir Fred Goodwin, the chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Sir Fred, who is known as "Fred the Shred" because of his fierce cost-cutting, is chairman of the Prince's Tust, the Prince's largest charity. Friends say the Prince also admires forward-thinking businessmen including James Dyson, the inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner; Julian Richer, who opened his first shop at 19 and went on to found Richer Sounds, Britain's biggest hi-fi retailer; and Andrew Brownsword, who sold his greetings card company to Hallmark in 1994 for £165 million and is now a hotelier and sports retailer. The Prince himself has taken an innovative approach to business. Duchy Originals, the organic food and drink company launched 14 years ago, despite deep scepticism from some of his critics, announced its first £1 million profit last year and continues to grow. All its profits go to charitable causes. The revenues of the duchy have risen 72 per cent over the past five years, to £13.2 million. The value of the Duchy of Cornwall estate has risen 80 per cent over the same period, to £505 million. The Prince also helps raise more than £100 million a year for charities. The PAC examined the workings of the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster, which provided the Queen with £9.7 million last year. It called on the Prince to be more open with the duchy's finances and to pay further taxes, and it warned of a potential conflict of interest from managing the estates while also benefiting from them. Sir Michael Peat, the Prince's private secretary, has accused the PAC of misunderstanding the duchies, which are not public bodies. "They are well-run private estates specifically created to provide incomes for the sovereign and the heir to the throne," he said. Senior aides have said it is nonsensical to expect the Prince to pay corporation tax when he already pays income tax.

One senior royal aide said: "The Prince of Wales does not pontificate. He gets his sleeves rolled up and leads the way. He is driven - driven by his sense of duty, driven by his desire to help make the country a better, more harmonious and civilised place in which to live."

July 27, 2005 -

Harry takes on a rocky challenge
27 JULY 2005 Hello Magazine

Prince Harry's military training will take him to new heights later this year after he signed up for a tough mountaineering course. The 20-year-old will have to prove his mettle on some of Europe's most difficult mountains when he sets about climbing a series of sheer rock faces next December.

According to a report in the Mirror newspaper, the royal cadet, who has previously been rock climbing with elder brother William, chose mountaineering over easier options like canoeing and sailing. Harry's decision puts paid to rumours he was feeling overwhelmed by the tough physical challenges of life at Sandhurst.

Later this year the young prince will tackle sheer rock faces in locations around the country. In recent weeks Harry has made several visits to the institution's sick bay, provoking reports he might be invalided out of the forces, but he obviously remains undaunted by the road ahead. Opting for mountain training means he will be taken to the Alps, North Wales, the Lake District or Scotland to tackle gruelling rock faces in the dead of winter.

His choice will come as small surprise to those who know him well, however. In years gone by the young royal has faced more criticism over his willingness to take risks than for any tendency to avoid hardship. Indeed he was just 13 when he raised eyebrows by abseiling down a 160ft dam without using a helmet or a back-up rope.
EXCLUSIVE: 'SICKNOTE' HARRY BID FOR PEAK CONDITION

PRINCE Harry yesterday hit back at claims he is too sickly for Army training by opting for a tough mountaineering course. The 20-year-old signed up for rock climbing as part of his training at Sandhurst amid claims he would be invalided out of the forces due to a stomach bug.

A Royal aide said last night: "Prince Harry is determined to show he has what it takes to be an Army officer. He has just chosen one of the toughest options on his course."

The prince - nicknamed "Sicknote" by fellow recruits - will be taken to the Alps or mountains in North Wales, the Lake District or Scotland in December for training on sheer rock faces in snowbound conditions.

The young Royal, who choose mountaineering over easier options such as canoeing or sailing, has been climbing for years. At 13, the prince abseiled down a 156ft dam wall in Wales without a helmet or back-up rope. He has also been rock climbing with his brother Prince William.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "Prince Harry is currently preparing for his training."

PRINCE William didn't have £27 to pay for a haircut at the posh Charlie Taylor salon in St Andrews, Fife. Stylist Gemma Slade, 20, said: "He had to run to his car and get some more cash."
Prince William to Learn Modern Finances

Britain's Prince William will learn how to rule the royal finances like a modern businessman when he starts work in London's City district this autumn.
The young prince is keen to acquire the skills which will help him eventually to have a hands-on role as the head of the Royal family.

His father, Prince Charles, has been accused of treating the royal estate like an archiac 'personal fiefdom', but William wants a modern monarchy run on cutting edge financial principles.
A senior royal source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "William is a bright young man who is well aware that the public has greater expectations in terms of a value-for-money monarchy than ever.

"He knows he needs to understand how the estate works from top to bottom."

July 26, 2005-

Exclusive: Army Life 'Curbs Harry's Drinking'

PRINCE Harry joked about hating Army life because it stops him drinking, a reveller revealed yesterday.

The officer cadet, relaxing with pals after playing polo on Sunday, was asked how he found Sandhurst.

Laughing, he replied: "I hate it, it's really tough and you can't drink as much."

After a tense hour and a half game, Harry, 20, had helped his Prince of Wales team to victory at the Cartier polo at Windsor.

As the Prince joined in celebrations he sensibly didn't take full advantage of the VIP tent's free bar.

An onlooker said: "They were downing vodka red bulls but Harry kept a lid on his drinking and didn't have as much as the rest.

"One girl even bought him a vodka and took it over in the hope of being invited to join them, but Harry took the drink off her, politely said thanks and gave it to his friend who drank it instead."

The girl sloped off to her friends and was heard screaming: "He's so fit!"

Harry's appearance at the match came amid criticism that he was given the okay to play just 72 hours after a day off ill at Sandhurst with a stomach bug. He was then excused strenuous duties for a day.

It was claimed to be Harry's fourth visit to doctors in his first eight weeks of his 44-week Army course.

He is now said to have been dubbed Sicknote by fellow recruits.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "Like all the other cadets he had a day off on Sunday. He checked with doctors and they said he was fine."

July 24, 2005-

18 July 2005 HEARTACHE FOR HARRY
Exclusive By Nathan Yates, Royal Reporter Mirror

LOVESTRUCK Prince Harry looked down in the dumps as he said goodbye to girlfriend Chelsy Davy who flew home to South Africa yesterday.

The prince, 20, stopped at a pub for a farewell drink with Chelsy, 19, after playing polo in Gloucs on Saturday.

Harry was given leave from military training at Sandhurst to spend the weekend with Chelsy, who has been holidaying in England for three weeks.

A Clarence House source said: "She is going home but they have had a great time together and are very much in love. He wanted to say his goodbyes before she went back."
Ailing Harry may quit Sandhurst
By Rebecca English Royal Correspondent23rd July 2005 Daily Mail

PRINCE Harry could be forced to leave Sandhurst on medical grounds, it is feared.

He has been consigned to bed this week after suffering from a bug. According to fellow recruits at the officer training college, Harry attended roll call at 7.30am on Thursday but later complained of a sore throat and feeling rundown.

He spent that night at the Sandhurst medical centre before being released yesterday morning and assigned to light duties. It was the fourth time in eight weeks the 20-year-old prince has seen doctors at the Royal Military Academy.

Last Friday, detectives drove him to the private Parkside Suite at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. The reason for the visit, which meant Harry missed another training exercise, is not clear.

Senior royal sources insisted it was a routine medical appointment'. `It was the kind of appointment that any cadet at Sandhurst may require and has nothing to do with any long-term health issue,' one said.

Last month the Daily Mail revealed Harry had been treated for blisters after a five-day exercise in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex. Doctors ordered him to rest and he was given permission to wear trainers instead of regulation Army boots.

He has also been prescribed antiinflammatory tablets for the knee injury that forced him to delay his entry to Sandhurst last year. According to reports, Harry, who has been nicknamed `Sick Note', has confided in fellow recruits about his fears that he `might not make it'. `Harry is really worried that he will be bumped off. He has had to see doctors four times in eight weeks and there are still 36 weeks to go of the course,' one said. `We have just over two weeks before we break up for the summer and it will be a very crucial time for the prince.'

Around 20 per cent of Sandhurst's 750 officer cadets drop out each year. They are, however, given the chance for intensive rehabilitation which opens the way for them to rejoin their colleagues after a term or so.

Last night Clarence House was keen to play down reports that Harry was on his `last legs'. `Prince Harry picked up a bug last week and spent Thursday night at Sandhurst Medical Centre. He was released on Friday morning and has been put on light duties for a couple of days,' a spokesman said. `The staff at Sandhurst are not worried about his long-term physical condition and Harry himself is very upbeat and extremely focused on his military training.'

Senior Royal sources believe Harry will overcome the hiccups he has experienced. `No one is saying that Harry has found the first few weeks at Sandhurst easy ā€“ far from it,' one said. `He has frequently spoken about how tough it has been. `But his experience has been no different from any of the other cadets there and I honestly can't see him wanting to quit.'

A senior Sandhurst source added: `If ā€“ and it is still a very big if at this stage ā€“ Harry is forced to retire on health grounds, he would, like all the other cadets, be given the opportunity to get himself fit again and return to training.' Harry is the first senior member of the Royal Family to join Sandhurst since Prince Michael of Kent 40 years ago.

July 22, 2005 -

Harry sick again but royals say he'll soldier on

ROYAL aides today denied Prince Harry's fledgling Army career is in jeopardy after he presented himself to the sick bay at Sandhurst for the fourth time in eight weeks. The 20-year-old spent the night in the military training college's medical centre after picking up a bug, Clarence House said today. He was expected to be released later today, but will only take part in light duties for the moment.

A spokeswoman said: "Prince Harry picked up a bug and spent last night in Sandhurst medical centre.

"He looks likely to be released later today and will go on light duties. The staff at Sandhurst are not worried about Harry's long-term physical condition."

Harry was said to be "upbeat" and determined to complete his gruelling officer training course at the Royal Military Academy in Camberley, Surrey. The Prince, who is third in line to the throne, was previously excused from wearing standard issue boots after his sturdy Army footwear gave him severe blisters.

July 21, 2005 -

Prince set to steal Robbie's crown at Tussauds

A waxwork of Prince William is to go on show at Madame Tussauds. Organisers at the tourist attraction in London are predicting its first model of the 23-year-old royal will take over from pop star Robbie Williams in the women’s affection stakes. William was unable to sit personally for the waxwork so the figure was crafted using photographs.

A spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds said: “Robbie Williams is currently the most popular male heart-throb in the attraction but we expect Prince William will steal his crown.

“The Royal Family is extremely popular at Madame Tussauds and we’re confident William will be no exception.”

William, who will be dressed in a lounge suit, will join grandmother the Queen and his father Prince Charles in the World Stage area of the museum. The 6ft 3in waxwork, which took three months to make, will be unveiled on August 3.

July 19, 2005 -

Wills in the wilderness - with Kate AND Jecca
by REBECCA ENGLISH, Daily Mail

With its stunning views of Kenya's last untamed wilderness, it isn't hard to imagine why Prince William chose an isolated hideaway for a romantic interlude with his girlfriend Kate Middleton. More surprising, however, is the fact that the lovestruck couple shared their idyllic break with the 23-year-old prince's former girlfriend, Jecca Craig. As the sun went down over the plains on Sunday night the trio - joined by other friends - sat on a veranda at their authentic Masai lodge, sipping "sundowners" and admiring the heartstopping views. Jecca is among friends who have joined the prince on his latest African adventure - even driving William and Kate around her family's 45,000-acre ranch near the Il Ngwesi lodge resort. The prince is on a month-long working holiday at Lewa Downs, the wildlife conservancy run by Jecca's parents, Ian and Jane, some four hours drive north of Nairobi. Five years ago, he spent several weeks working on the estate as part of his gap year after Eton and is said to have enjoyed a teenage romance with Jecca, described by those who know her as "sweet, loyal and very outdoorsy".

Close friends

The pair have remained close friends, with William travelling out to Kenya almost every year since to visit the Craigs, whose family settled at Lewa in 1924. They are seen by him as something of a second family. To break up his trip this year, William asked 12 friends to join him at Lewa for a few days - including 23-year-old Kate and best friend Thomas van Straubenzee. On Sunday, the prince treated the party by splashing out £1,500 to hire Il Ngwesi, which is run by Masai tribesmen, for the night. Situated on a hill next to the Ngare Ndare river and with magnificent views of snow-topped Mount Kenya, the resort is a paradise between peak and plain. It consists of six "bandas", thatched open-plan cottages designed to make the most of the scenery. The showers, and even the toilets, are outside and overlook the tree-covered plains. The cottage where William and Kate stayed has a large four-poster bed, draped with mosquito nets, which can be dragged out on to a platform to sleep under the stars. William's party are believed to have arrived on foot shortly after lunch following a six-hour trek through the bush with armed guides. The prince, who had been working all morning, turned up later, driving himself along a rutted 25-mile track followed by Jecca.

Cocktail party

That evening, the party sipped their "sundowners" - fruit-based cocktails - overlooking a water hole used by rhinos, elephants, giraffes, lions and zebra. As the sun began to sink, they tucked into a lavish barbecue served on a wooden platform built jutting out into the air.

"William has stayed at Il Ngwesi twice before and fell in love with both the beauty of the lodge and its isolation," said a source close to the prince.

"It is a very romantic spot that he holds close to his heart so it is no surprise that he would have wanted to take Kate out there with him this time."

The couple met at St Andrews University. Since they graduated last month he has appeared in public with her several times, giving rise to speculation that the relationship is becoming increasingly serious. Kate is said to be very relaxed about William's friendship with Jecca, with whom she also gets on well. William sees his ex-girlfriend, who is in a serious relationship of her own, regularly in England where she lives and studies.
WILLS ON HOL WITH GIRLFRIEND ..AND EX
By Nathan Yates Royal Reporter

PRINCE William has invited girlfriend Kate Middleton to join him on holiday - with his old flame Jecca Craig. He brought her to Jecca's ranch in Kenya yesterday to spend the next couple of weeks with them.

A Clarence House source said: "It is a civilised arrangement. There are no hard feelings between Jecca and William and he feels completely comfortable with Kate being there. They are all enjoying the African sunshine." Kate, 22, arrived at the ranch on Sunday after she and William, 23, had spent three weeks apart. The holiday at the secluded safari resort is the latest sign that William and Kate are serious about each other. There were rumours the pair had grown apart after graduating from St Andrews last month.

But the source added: "William was very keen to invite Kate to Africa.

"It is significant - an indication that he does want the relationship to continue after college. It means he is very serious about her and intends to be with her for the foreseeable future." Kate is expected to join William and Jecca on a safari. Later they are also believed to be planning a visit to a coastal resort. The holiday is the first chance he has had to get together with Kate since returning from his first official tour, a three-week trip to New Zealand.
Royal News Prince William Off To Kenya

Royal News: Britain's Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton are holidaying with his ex Jecca Craig. The handsome royal has invited 23-year-old Kate to stay with him on a Kenyan ranch owned by Jecca's family for two weeks. The youngsters - along with seven friends - are staying in £1,500-a-night Masai huts to celebrate their graduation from St Andrew's University. They are reportedly planning to go on safari together, as well as stay in a coastal resort.

A Clarence House insider told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "It is a civilised arrangement. There are no hard feelings between Jecca and William and he feels completely comfortable with Kate being there. They are enjoying the African sunshine."

Sources claim William and Jecca, who met on the prince's gap year in 2001, now have a "brother-sister relationship", while William's romance with fellow student Kate is still going strong. Last month, Prince William was reportedly left red-faced after Kate and Jecca were both invited to the same wedding. Clemmie Travis, who was a schoolgirl chum of the bride, society girl Rose Astor, was surprised to see both girls at the wedding. She said at the time: "It does seem strange. I'm not surprised William looked awkward. Kate looked happy and smiley but Jecca was expressionless."

July 18, 2005 -

Royal News Prince Harry Bids Chelsy Davy Goodbye

Royal News: Britain's Prince Harry said an emotional goodbye to girlfriend Chelsy Davy yesterday (17.07.05) before she flew home to South Africa.

The prince, who is currently completing his army officer training at Sandhurst Military Academy, looked miserable and upset as he waved goodbye to the pretty student.

Harry, 20, had been given leave from the gruelling training regime to spend the weekend with Chelsy - who has been holidaying in England for the past three weeks.

A Clarence House spokesman confirmed the pair had spent the weekend together and insisted they were still "very much in love".

He said: "She is going home but they have had a great time together and are very much in love. He wanted to say his goodbyes before she went back."

Last week, Chelsy was spotted chatting to a mystery man while out clubbing. The pretty blonde was seen in deep conversation with the unknown man, with her arm rested on his thigh, while out partying at London's trendy K Bar, in Chelsea, with friends.

One fellow reveller said: "Both of them were really focused on each other." Chelsy was later seen drinking vodka and Redbull at the popular night-spot and according to fellow revellers looked dishevelled and appeared to be quite drunk.

July 15, 2005 -

Royal News Prince Harrys Girlfriend Spotted Out Clubbing

Royalty Today: Chelsy Davy, the girlfriend of Britain's Prince Harry, has been spotted out clubbing.

The pretty blonde was seen partying at London's trendy K Bar, in Chelsea, until the early hours of yesterday morning (14.07.05).

Chelsy was seen drinking vodka and Redbull at the popular night-spot and according to fellow revellers looked dishevelled and appeared to be quitedrunk.

The 19-year-old blonde had been enjoying a night out with friends and was without Harry as the young prince is still completing his army officer training at Sandhurst Military Academy, in Surrey.

Earlier this month, Chelsy was publicly welcomed into the British royal family by Harry's father Prince Charles.

Charles gave Chelsy a kiss on the cheek at her first public engagement with Harry at a polo tournament, in Sunninghill, and afterwards was seen happily chatting to the beautiful blonde.

A royal source said at the time: "It was Charles' way of saying, 'She's a great girl'. It meant a lot to Harry, who has already told his father that he thinks Chelsy is 'The One'. Harry really was over the moon."

The public appearance came during a short break in Harry's army training.

July 13, 2005 -

Bill for William's visit put at $120,000

Prince William's 10-day New Zealand trip cost taxpayers an estimated
$120,000, Internal Affairs says.

The prince's first solo official royal tour included several
official duties and public appearances, as well as private time with
friends.

A final costing was not yet available, an Internal Affairs
Department spokesman said.

William arrived in New Zealand on July 1, after being invited by
British and Irish Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward to join the team
for the second and third tests.

His official duties included laying wreaths at ceremonies in
Auckland and Wellington to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the
end of World War II. William also opened a water polo competition,
and planted a tree at Government House in Wellington. A planned trip
to Arrowtown Primary School had to be cancelled due to the weather.

In his spare time, he played pool with a friend in a bar and
frequented Wellington cafes.

July 12, 2005 -

Harry in booze & Royals

By JAMIE PYATT

PARTY-loving Prince Harry will be the toast of the Army — he’s joining a regiment notorious for boozy antics.

The 20-year-old, known to like a drink, has been accepted for posh Cavalry outfit the Blues and Royals after he finishes officer training at Sandhurst.

It will mean he will take his turn at guarding his grandmother the Queen and parade on ceremonial occasions.

With the Life Guards, the Blues and Royals makes up the Army’s most senior regiment, the Household Cavalry.

The Royals were tagged the “Booze and Royals” after a string of shameful incidents. These included two Household Cavalry soldiers drinking themselves to death and a horse being force-fed booze before going on parade.

Harry will be stationed in Combermere Barracks in Windsor, just a mile from the Castle, and will be rostered to protect the Queen now and then.

Officially he should not get a choice of which regiment to join until he is in the final term of his 42-week stint at the Royal Military Academy.

But unofficially he has asked to join the historic Blues and Royals, whose origins date back to 1660.

The Army source said: “They have been told to prepare for Prince Harry, providing he completes his course.

“It has yet to be decided what operational duties he will perform.

“The Household Cavalry and in particular the Blues and Royals have been in the thick of it for many years and are a fiercely proud fighting regiment.

“Harry is a fine horseman and polo player and it will suit him down to the ground. But whether he will be allowed to go to troublespots or be kept in cotton wool has not been decided.”

Harry has insisted he should be treated like any other soldier and has stressed he wants to play an active part by “doing his bit”.

The Household Cavalry carries out ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions in resplendent plumed helmets and gleaming breastplates.

But they also have an operational role in armoured vehicles and were at the forefront of operations in the Falklands, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Gulf.

Royal love rat Major James Hewitt, who had a five-year affair with Harry’s mother Diana, was stationed at the same barracks with the Life Guards.
Prince's party went on late night search for black ties
Two Blenheim businessmen were jolted from their sleep at 2am last Friday by phone calls from police on the hunt for ties. Neck ties.

Black ties, to be precise. Ten. By royal command.

They were needed urgently by Prince William and his entourage, overnighting in Kaikoura, to wear in respect for victims of the bombings in London on Thursday night.

Kim Andrews, manager of Blenheim department store J E Thomas', said he went in to his store and found as many dark coloured ties as he could find.

"We do stock them (black ties) but they're not big sellers," Mr Andrews said.

Also roused from his bed was David Buckley, owner of Cloudy Bay Funeral Services. By the time he had found two black ties the police were already knocking on his door. So far none of the ties has been returned.

Mr Andrews said he understood that if they were not returned the Internal Affairs Department would pay for them.

"I would be quite happy to know that the Prince had one of my ties," Mr Buckley said.

Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan, of Blenheim police, was second in charge of the protection squad in Kaikoura. Mr Sloan said the prince's party had been unaware of what was happening London until about midnight.

"At that stage nothing had been cancelled the following day and it

was thought they might need to wear the ties," he said. The ties were delivered to the prince's party in Kaikoura by 6am on Friday. Some were used and some would be returned.

July 10, 2005 -

William: We won't let terrorists beat us

By TIM HUME

A determination to not "let the terrorists beat us" is behind Prince William's decision to continue his New Zealand tour despite the London bombings.
His spokesman, Patrick Harrison, told the Sunday Star-Times the royal family and advisers had discussed curtailing the prince's first solo public tour after Thursday's terrorist attacks, but decided against it.

"One of the things we don't want to do is to let the terrorists beat us," he said. "These sort of events provoke discussions about programming, but (William) felt it was very important to honour his commitments, most importantly an event on Sunday which marks and pays respect to New Zealand efforts in the Second World War."

The prince felt he should stay in New Zealand, said Harrison. The only change to his schedule had been cancelling Friday's planned whale-watching trip so he could "spend the day privately and quietly".

The prince visited Auckland's British consulate-general yesterday to sign the first page of a condolence book for attack victims.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and families, William," he wrote.

High Commission press officer Bryan Nicolson said the prince wanted to know if any New Zealanders were directly involved in the bombings.

"His main concerns were for the victims, and he was concerned to hear if there had been any developments, particularly among the critically injured," he said.

High Commissioner Richard Fell believed the prince felt "it was important to show his personal commitment and solidarity".

The royal family responded swiftly to the attacks, a near-full complement turning out to support injured Londoners, helping to ward off the accusations of aloofness that were levelled at them following the death of Princess Diana.

The Queen visited the bedsides of the injured at the Royal London Hospital, Prince Charles and Camilla toured St Mary's Hospital, and Prince Andrew visited a bus co-ordination centre.

Earlier yesterday, Prince William attended a water polo tournament in West Auckland, attracting cheers and whistles as he entered the pool complex dressed in a navy suit.

After observing a silence to mark the attacks, the prince - who played water polo for Scotland in a Celtic nations tournament, and captained his university team - "dropped the ball" to start a game, laughing when a false start forced him to do it twice.
EXCLUSIVE: THE KATE ESCAPE

William heads off for three-week holiday in Africa with girlfriend

From Nathan Yates, Royal Reporter in New Zealand

PRINCE William last night jetted off for a holiday in Africa with girlfriend Kate Middleton.

And the three-week escape shows how "very serious" the 23-year-old royal is about her, admitted aides. William has been apart from Kate for two-and-a-half weeks because he has been touring New Zealand representing the Queen. But as he flew from a memorial service, a Clarence House source said: "He's desperate to see her. It's very serious and they miss each other.

"His first official engagements have been very successful. Now he just wants his holiday with Kate."

Wills and Kate, 22, met while studying at St Andrews University and were living together before they graduated last month. It was thought they might drift apart after leaving Scotland.

But the source added: "William means to see as much of Kate as his duties allow. He wants quality private time in Africa with her."

Kate will fly from England to the location which is top secret - though it is known she and Wills will go on safari and spend time by the sea.

They will also stay on private estates offering security and seclusion impossible to find elsewhere.

On his return, Wills will begin work-experience placements - in the City, on a country estate and as a mountain rescuer - before joining brother Harry at Sandhurst.
Royal News Prince William Joins Kate Middleton

Royal News: Britain's Prince William has jetted off to Africa for a safari adventure with girlfriend Kate Middleton.

The young prince, who flew out of New Zealand last night (11.07.05), is said to be spending around three weeks with the pretty brunette to celebrate their recent graduation from St Andrew's University.

The romantic escape shows how "very serious" the 23-year-old royal is about Kate, admitted aides.

William has been apart from Kate for two-and-a-half weeks because of his official visit to New Zealand and was said to be eager to see her, according to a report in Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper.

A Clarence House source said: "He's desperate to see her. It's very serious and they miss each other.

"His first official engagements have been very successful. Now he just wants his holiday with Kate."

The couple met while studying at St Andrew's University in Scotland, and were living together before they graduated last month. It had been thought they may drift apart after graduating.

But the source insisted: "William means to see as much of Kate as his duties allow. He wants quality private time in Africa with her."

When he gets back to the UK, the young prince will begin a series of work-experience placements.
PRINCE HARRY GETS ROYAL TREATMENT AT SANDHURST
British royal PRINCE HARRY has infuriated his military peers by gaining permission to leave his barracks at Sandhurst Military Collage in England to compete in an international polo tournament.The 20-year-old polo fanatic is determined to play on his father PRINCE CHARLES' team for the match on 24 July (05), because his dad and older brother PRINCE WILLIAM are unable to take part.But the decision has infuriated his peers, who are themselves refused leave at weekends, especially as this is Harry's second weekend off in less than a month.A friend tells British newspaper the Mail On Sunday, "Harry is determined not to miss the biggest polo event of the year."He requested the weekend off a while ago and has been told it probably won't be a problem even though trainees are not allowed out at weekends."They're making a special exception for Harry, which hasn't gone down too well with his chums who will be back at the barracks as usual."

July 9, 2005 -

William signs book for bomb victims

Prince William has signed a book of condolence for those who lost loved ones in the devastating London terror attacks. The second in line to the throne expressed his concern at the high number of casualties inflicted by the horrific bomb blasts. Showing solidarity with people back home, the Prince, who is thousands of miles away on tour with the British Lions in New Zealand, wrote his message of support at the British Consulate-General in Auckland. Looking solemn and deep in concentration, William bit his lip as he thought about which words to use.

In blue ink on a left-hand page, he wrote: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and families" before signing his name as simply "William".

The book, which opened at the Consulate on the 17th floor of a city centre block, will remain in Auckland to be signed by members of the public before being sent to London next week.

British High Commissioner Richard Fell said: "William talked about the latest situation in London. He was very concerned and wanted to show personal commitment and solidarity for the people in the UK. William, who wore a red and blue tie and navy double breasted suit, has already spoken of his horror on hearing of the terrorist atrocities which targeted the No 30 bus and underground trains, bringing carnage to the capital and killing more than 50 people.

The 23-year-old Prince said: "I was shocked and very saddened to learn of the terrible events that had occurred in London. At this time, I'm sure that I'm joined by New Zealanders and Lions supporters alike in extending to the families and loved ones of all those directly involved, my heartfelt sympathies." The Prince continued with his public programme of events, but cancelled a private whale watching expedition on Friday as a mark of respect to those who died. Earlier he joined spectators at a water polo match in standing, head bowed, as the commentator requested a moment's silence in memory of the dead.

July 8, 2005 -

QUEEN'S DEFIANT MESSAGE

The Queen said terrorists who caused carnage in London would "not change our way of life".

During a visit to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel - where more than 200 blast victims are being treated - she said: "Atrocities such as these simply reinforce our sense of community, our humanity, our trust in the rule of law.

"That is the clear message from us all."

During the speech to 250 staff, she also thanked members of the emergency services and Transport for London for their "care, professionalism and sensitivity".

She also praised Londoners for their determination to return to a normal life.

Earlier, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to the "resilience of the British people" after the bombings.

"It's been one of the things that many of us have dreaded for a long time and now they have finally got through," he said.

"What I can never get over is the resilience of the British people who have set us all a fantastic example of how to recover."

Speaking on a visit to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, just a few hundred yards from the Edgware Road blast scene he praised staff for their work.

He added: "I remember coming here after the Paddington rail crash. Staff really are extraordinary. Everyone pulls together and it brings out the best of them."

Camilla added: "It makes me very proud to be British."
Royal News Prince William Learns The Haka

Britain's Prince William happily posed with school children during his official visit to New Zealand.The young royal enjoyed an action-packed day of activity in the Maori village Kaikoura yesterday (07.07.05). After learning how to rub noses with the tribal chiefs for a traditional greeting, the 23-year-old was taught the Maori war dance, the haka.

The rugby-loving prince threw himself into learning the complex ritual dance, grimacing and poking out his tongue while tribal chiefs tutored him in the dance famously performed by the All Blacks rugby team.

An onlooker said the second-in-line to the throne really got into the spirit of the haka.

He revealed: "It was an astonishing sight. William was doing the war dance with his tongue hanging out and pulling the face just like you see on the rugby.

"He's not normally scary, but on this occasion he did look frightening."

The prince - who recently graduated from St Andrews University - also played a game of volleyball with young pupils from Christchurch boy's high school. Before leaving he was presented with a model of a sperm whale hand carved from a real whale's tooth.
Prince William’s Memorable Week in New Zealand

Prince William has nearly wrapped up his landmark trip to New Zealand, which included his first ever solo engagements.

Launching his public life after graduating from Scotland's St Andrews University, the 23-year-old royal drew comparisons to his mother Princess Diana as he made a number of charitable visits, cuddling with pint-sized patients at a local hospital and warmly greeting throngs of well-wishers.

Wills also had the chance to make the most of his love of sport, meeting the British and Irish Lions rugby squad and taking in a bit of skiing.

In the wake of Wednesday's bombings in London, the Prince cancelled a planned whale-watching trip and expressed his "heartfelt sympathies" for those affected by the tragedy.

"I was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible events that have occurred in London," the Prince said in a statement. "At this time I am sure that I am joined by New Zealanders and Lions supporters alike in extending to the families and loved ones of those directly involved my heartfelt sympathies. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

A spokesperson said the Prince would continue with his engagements this weekend before leaving the country on Sunday.
Prince William continuing on scheduled programme

Prince William will continue on his scheduled programme in New Zealand after cancelling a whale-watching trip in the wake of the London bombings, a government spokesman said today. The Prince, who is second in line to the British throne, was due to have gone whale-watching in Kaikoura, north Canterbury, before heading to Auckland on the final leg of his New Zealand itinerary.

The spokesman said Prince William would open a water polo competition at Waitakere tomorrow morning, attend the third rugby test between the All Blacks and the Lions at Eden Park tomorrow night and lay a wreath in Auckland on Sunday before leaving the country. Prince William is conducting his first official duties outside Britain without other members of the royal family, with a tour built around the second and third rugby tests. He released a statement today about the attacks on the London transport system which killed 37 people.

"I was shocked and very saddened to learn of the terrible events that have occurred in London," he said.

"At this time I am sure that I am joined by New Zealanders and Lions supporters alike in extending to the families and loved ones of those directly involved my heartfelt sympathies.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

July 7, 2005 -

Volley good show, Wills
From DUNCAN LARCOMBE
Royal Reporter in New Zealand

PRINCE William showed off his sporting skills yesterday by having a game of volleyball with a delighted group of lads. The 23-year-old - an accomplished water polo and polo player - took off his jacket to join in the fun during a visit to Christchurch Boys’ High School in New Zealand. He even scored a point with a difficult “reverse dig”. The visit took place before news reached him of the atrocities in London. Despite his skill, William was not so impressed by his five-minute appearance on court. Net gain ... Wills scores a point with a 'reverse dig'

He joked: "It’s all falling to pieces."

But fellow team member Sam Greenwood, 15, said after the game: "He did some serves, diggers and spikes. It was a bit of an honour.”

George Hampton, 15, said: "I was surprised he joined in. He’s good he’s got potential."

William also faced his own Maori haka, standing with his arms folded as around 25 students, dressed in school uniform, directed the threatening tongue-poking, eye-bulging dance at him and striking their clenched fists in the air. William’s visit to the Christchurch school was hastily arranged after he was forced to cancel a trip to Arrowtown primary near Queenstown. His flight made two aborted landings and had to turn back due to poor weather.
One day the flags are flying proudly, the next they are at half-mast
By Neil Tweedie, Kate Devlin and Rosie Murray-West
(Filed: 08/07/2005) Telegraph

On Wednesday, London was a sea of optimism, delighting in its unexpected victory in the competition to stage the 2012 Olympics. Union flags fluttered in a blizzard of ticker-tape in Trafalgar Square.

Yesterday, another Union flag flew at half-mast from the roof of Buckingham Palace. Dozens of people were dead, killed by four bombs carried on to the Underground and a red double-deck bus by Islamist extremists.

The flag on the roof of Buckingham Palace flying at half mast

The capital's transport system, so long an object of frustration to those who use it, had become an object of fear, to be avoided if at all possible.

One of the greatest cities in the world had been crippled temporarily by a few pounds of explosive used expertly to attack its most vulnerable arteries.

A brutal object lesson in economy of force.

Disasters, natural and man-made, allow people to behave differently, and so it was in London yesterday.

In the City some pubs and wine bars were full at mid-morning, populated by traders and secretaries unable to reach their places of work. Suddenly, with the world a more perilous place, it was acceptable to drink large glasses of wine at 11am.

Outside, the streets of the Square Mile were quiet, sealed by police tape.

Commuters sought out television sets and radios or tried to contact friends and relatives on the overloaded mobile telephone networks. The unsuccessful formed orderly queues at telephone boxes.

Staff at the investment bank UBS, situated next to Liverpool Street station, were evacuated at 9.30am. The police officer posted outside to ensure that no one went back in said: "Last time I did one of these I was standing there for 14 hours."

Some of his colleagues in the Metropolitan Police were away at Gleneagles guarding the G8 leaders. Right time, wrong place.

Outside the Swiss Re building - the ''Gherkin'' - buses stood empty. "It was terrifying when we first heard," said one of the drivers. "The first thing I did was get out and check the back of my bus."

Inside the new London Stock Exchange building, the FTSE 100 headed south. Across the Thames, the London Eye was evacuated.

It takes more than a terrorist attack to intimidate Her Majesty's judges. A warning that people should remain inside at the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand was studiously ignored by those looking forward to a good lunch at the Inns of Court.

There was no time for lunch in the hospitals of central London, where 400 of the injured were treated.

Commuters learnt to walk, completing their journeys to work on foot. Some walked for miles.

In addition to the fear, there was generosity and a sense of community rarely experienced in modern London.

Hotels near the explosions opened their doors to the shocked and injured, offering tea and comfort before the police moved in to evacuate them.

The Quakers opened their premises in the Euston Road to the public. Information was pinned up and telephones were made available. Bombs do not discriminate on grounds of religion.

Osman Mohamed, a community worker in Aldgate, said: "This is a very Muslim area. Most of the people travelling through Aldgate station would have come from this community. The suffering is very much happening here."

By early afternoon office workers were beginning to make their way home. The roads were largely clear, after the gridlock that paralysed the heart of the capital immediately after the attacks.

Although almost all main line railway stations were open by late afternoon, the Underground largely remained shut.

Bus services only slowly returned to normal. London's airports remained open throughout the day but many missed their flights. There was one welcome casualty - the congestion charge, suspended until Monday.

Overland services from Liverpool Street resumed at 3.45pm. Roy Hardwicke, a stockbroker from Hertfordshire, was philosophical about the delays. "I'm just grateful to be in one piece," he said.

Chris Randall, 28, was not so lucky. He was travelling to work in Kensington when his train was rocked by an explosion at Edgware Road station.

He remembered: "I didn't hear anything - just a flash of light. No thoughts of what it was, I just had to get out of the train.

"I put my hands up to my face. I was on the floor by that point. I guess there were about six or seven people lying on the floor, a lot of people, a lot of blood on faces and ripped clothes. Some people were screaming."
WILLS GETS THE BOYS ROUND
From Nathan Yates In New Zealand
Mirror
PRINCE William poses with schoolboys after an action-packed day in New
Zealand yesterday during which he was taught Maori war dance the haka.

The 23-year-old entered into the spirit of things by contorting his
face and poking out his tongue while tribal chiefs took him through
the dance famously performed by the All Blacks rugby team.

An onlooker said: "It was an astonishing sight. William was doing the
war dance with his tongue hanging out and pulling the face just like
you see on the rugby. He's not normally scary, but on this occasion he
did look frightening."

Wills was taught the haka on a trip to Maori village Kaikoura. He
rubbed noses with the chiefs in a traditional greeting.

The prince, who sang the hymn Jerusalem, was handed a model of a sperm
whale carved from a real one's tooth as a gift.

William, on an official visit to New Zealand, also went speed-boating
and played volleyball with pupils from Christchurch boy's high school.
William sends condolences

Prince William, who is in the South Island at the moment, says he is shocked and very saddened to learn of the terrible events in London.

The death toll from the three bomb blasts on London's underground and one on a bus, officially remains 37 but some reports put it as high as 50.

The prince says he is sure he is joined by New Zealand and Lions' supporters alike in extending heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of all those directly involved.

British terrorism expert Mike Yardley says the bombings are a massive failure on the intelligence front and it is highly surprising the pending attack did not even register as a blip on the radar screen.

He says Britain was in a heightened state because of the G8 meeting in Scotland, yet for some extraordinary reason, London was not on a particularly high security alert, and had in fact just been downgraded. He says it is not something that has been planned for a few days or even a few weeks but had probably been planned for a year. He believes it had nothing to do with the Olympics but may have had something to do with G8.

Meanwhile, New Zealander Amy Morton, is a primary school teacher in London and says the school she works at made the decision not to tell the children what had happened and to leave it to their parents.

She says it was a difficult situation as the teachers wanted to watch the television updates and discuss it amongst themselves. Ms Morton says a staff meeting will be held first thing in the morning to discuss how to talk to the pupils about it, An assembly will then take place and prayers will be said for those lost in the blast.
WILLS JOINS THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Joan Burnie
Daily Record

TINS of treacle dropped all over Prince Wills this week as he finally joins the family firm and gets stuck in to the royal duties in New Zealand. So William plants a very small tree all on his own. Gosh. He walks. He talks and no-one can see the strings. Golly. Meanwhile, we hear endless comparisons with his late, sainted mother. Blah de blah. But what tickled me most, was that gong swinging so prominently from the prince's lapel when he was meeting and greeting war veterans.

They wore their own well-earned medals with pride, but I'm damned if I know what Wills won his for, unless it was for showing extreme bravery in getting a degree in Geography and spending four years in St. Andrews

AND FINALLY

PRINCE Charles says that one of his best wedding presents was a box of specially tied fishing flies - including a new one named the Golden Camilla. What do they mean, 'new'? Camilla reeled in her big fish thirty odd years ago.
The Queen 'deeply shocked' by attacks

13:48pm 7th July 2005

The Queen has spoken of her shock at the terrorist attacks.

In an open message, she said: "The dreadful events in London have deeply shocked us all.

"I know I speak for the whole nation in expressing my sympathy to all those affected and the relatives of the killed and injured.

Palace sealed off

"I have nothing but admiration for the emergency services as they go about their work."

The Queen is currently at Windsor after travelling from the Gleneagles G8 summit where she last night hosted a dinner for political leaders.

Buckingham Palace has been sealed off in the wake of the terrorist blasts with armed police and army personnel on guard.

July 6, 2005 -

William shows the Diana touch
By Claire Trevett
New Zealand Herald

There had to come a point in this royal visit when comparisons
between William and his mother could no longer be avoided.

Yesterday it came at Starship Children's Hospital.

William has faced intermittent flak for his decision to come to New
Zealand to watch the Lions. There were grumbles that he headed off
to a colonial outpost for a spot of rugby rather than fight world
poverty at the Live8 concert, or prop up London's bid to host the
2012 Olympics.

So it is all too easy to dismiss wheeling out a royal to visit sick
kids as a trite PR exercise. But that is unfair on the one fronting
the exercise.

William scrunched himself up into tiny chairs, took up oversized
pens to scrawl pictures of dubious artistic merit, signed casts and
then laughed at his own efforts.

Cynicism lost the day.

About 30 children were waiting in Starship's new rainforest atrium
when Prince William appeared with Lions Brian O'Driscoll and Bill
Beaumont.

The Lions provided a target for a few cheeky staff waving an All
Blacks banner, but it was William the children wanted.

William has already shown he has his father's agility with quips,
and yesterday he showed it was balanced by his mother's relaxed
empathy.

If he was nervous about meeting children - who can be unpredictable
conversationalists at the best of times - under eyes bound to look
for comparisons between his own style and his mother's, he showed it
only once.

When faced with French-speaking Tahitian Moeana Tutavae, 14, who was
in New Zealand for treatment of a heart condition, he admitted with
a smile that he was acquainted with French, but appeared to have
lost his tongue in the excitement.

"I do speak a bit, but not here. There's too much pressure. I
couldn't do it," he said.

The Prince ended up overstaying the scheduled hospital visit by half
an hour, taking extra time to visit patients in the oncology and
orthopaedic wards, and paediatric critical care unit.

This was not just the brief grip and grin encounters of public
walkabouts. Parents were in for lengthy discussions; children were
asked about their ailments, their artworks and the rugby.

Vincent Guttenbeil-Pouhila, 4, had "Vincent, with best wishes,
Wills" autographed on his flower painting.

His mother, Yvette, said Vincent had pneumonia and it was his first
day out of isolation.

"I just thought it would be nice to bring him round other people,
because we've been locked up in that room for five days.

"Then when we got down here it got really exciting. It was special.

"I was nervous but [Prince William] made it very easy to talk to
him."

Appendicitis patient Michael Nock's father, Alan, said William had
asked if the children were rugby fans.

The response was resoundingly yes..

"He said it seemed all Kiwis were rugby fans, with a wry smile," Mr
Nock said.

Scott Gardner, 12, had a measured think about the visit.

"It was nice to have somebody with such authority show a unique
interest in you."

The staff came in for special treatment as well. Starship foundation
chief executive Andrew Young said he came across a "beaming"
hospital manager in the Prince's wake.

"She proudly declared that the Prince had kissed her on the cheek.
She said 'his skin was unreal. It's the smoothest thing I've ever
touched'."

William later had lunch with the All Blacks at the Heritage Hotel,
and attended the Auckland-Lions clash last night.

William's schedule

* If the weather lets him land in Queenstown, Prince William will
visit Arrowtown School today, before two days' ski-ing in the South
Island.
* He returns to Auckland to open the New Zealand Junior Mens' Water
Polo Championship on Saturday and will attend the third test.

July 6, 2005 -

William’s Mid-Air Drama

Prince William has been caught in a mid-air drama after a plane he was in failed twice to land in poor weather.

Conditions were so bad the pilot was forced to tell passengers he "wouldn't have seen the runway until we were about to hit it".

But the Prince did not even break a sweat and remained "completely relaxed", convinced he was "in good hands", a spokesman said.

William was travelling on the Air New Zealand flight to Invercargill when low clouds and poor visibility prompted the pilot to change course and return to Christchurch instead.

Jeff Lynton, who was flying the plane, updated the 23-year-old second heir to the throne and the other 65 passengers via the intercom.

He said: "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, sorry about that. We made two approaches. We did the best we could."

And he joked: "We wouldn't have even seen the runway until we were about to hit it. We had two go's for you."

Mr Lynton said afterwards: "I wanted to get the boy down. He's got things to do. I've only had this once before and I've been flying for five years.

"It was an absolute oncer. It just had to happen on this day of all days."

William had been due to visit schoolchildren in Queenstown, near Invercargill, but the bad weather meant he was unable to make it in time.

July 5, 2005 -

Prince William wins sick kids' hearts

Prince William has won the hearts of some sick and injured kids
after he visited a children's hospital in Auckland.

Accompanied by two members of the British and Irish Lions rugby
team, William chatted with patients and their parents at the
Starship Children's Hospital.

William visited some of the wards and spent half an hour in the
hospital's atrium with about 15 children.

The prince, Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll - who had his arm in a
sling from a playing injury - and teammate Bill Beaumont sat with
the children, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

They were watched by hospital staff and surrounded by a huge pack of
photographers and reporters who have followed the prince around
during his New Zealand trip.

Dressed in a navy blue jacket with tie and khaki trousers, William
spent about five minutes talking with each of the children and their
parents.

Patient Michael Nock said the prince had talked to him about the
Lions-All Blacks rugby Test series in New Zealand and asked about
his appendix operation.

"My life's complete now I've seen Prince William, he's a nice man,"
Michael said.

Car accident victim Brendan Kroon said he would keep the plaster
cast on his arm that William signed.

Brendan said he could not wait to tell family and friends about
meeting the royal.

But four-year-old pneumonia patient Vincent Guttenbeil-Pouhila did
not know who the prince was and showed more interest in the media
pack.

"He was lovely, he was really nice," Vincent's mother Yvette said of
the prince.

William's next stop was a luncheon with the All Blacks team at a
city hotel and he planned to watch the Lions play Auckland in a
rugby game on Tuesday night.

William is in New Zealand on an 11-day visit to support the Lions
and undertake his first solo official engagements.

He leaves the country on Sunday.

July 1, 2005 -

Harry off the hook as art tutor wins sacking case
Daily Mail 4th July 2005

Teacher: Sarah Forsyth

A sacked Eton College art teacher who secretly taped Prince Harry in an
attempt to save her job has won her case for unfair dismissal from the school
today.

An employment tribunal panel ruled that Sarah Forysth, 30, had been unfairly
treated over the public school's decision not to renew her contract, but
dismissed her allegations over Prince Harry.

A spokesman for the world-famous school said: "The tribunal quite rightly saw
through Miss Forsyth's publicity-seeking allegations regarding Prince Harry."

He also said that the institution now hopes to prevent the teacher receiving
compensation, arguing that her tape-recording of a conversation with a pupil
amounted to gross misconduct.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "We are delighted that Harry has been
totally cleared of cheating. As the tribunal says, it did not believe Miss Forsyth's
evidence on this point - these allegations have been thoroughly investigated
by the examination board who found there was no evidence of malpractice.

"We note that the tribunal says that in terms of the allegation of cheating,
it was not 'satisfied that events took place exactly as she described them'."

The Clarence House spokesman continued: "The tribunal describes the
tape-recording of Prince Harry made by Miss Forsyth as 'clearly an abuse of the
position of trust in the pupil-teacher relationship'."

The tribunal panel announced today that Miss Forsyth had won her case for
unfair dismissal under Sections 111 and 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 but
rejected a separate unfair dismissal claim, under another section of the Act,
and threw out her claim of sex discrimination.

Miss Forsyth claimed that she was treated unfairly by the college during
discussions about whether her contract would be extended after the summer of 2003.

She also accused her head of department Ian Burke of bullying her and giving
improper assistance to pupils during exams.

During the tribunal in May, Miss Forsyth claimed that she had written most of
the text of the Prince's AS-Level art coursework journal, something she said
was "unethical and probably constituted cheating".

Prince denied cheating

The Prince has strenuously denied any suggestion that he cheated and an
investigation by the examination board Edexcel found no evidence of any improper
behaviour.

Harry: Aboriginal-inspired artwork

During the hearing, she also claimed that Mr Burke had "touched up"
aboriginal-inspired artwork which was displayed to the media when Harry completed his
time at Eton.

In a lengthy judgment on the case, the tribunal panel described Miss Forsyth
as consistent and "truthful" on the whole.

But the panel added: "The one reason where she did alter her evidence was in
relation to her allegations concerning Prince Harry's expressive art project
and the assistance she says she was required to give him."

Headmaster criticised

In a last-ditch bid to save her job in the summer of 2003, Miss Forsyth
secretly tape-recorded the Prince talking about the coursework journal the previous
year.

The panel found that their "inevitable conclusion" was that Sarah Forsyth's
dismissal had been unreasonable.

Headmaster Anthony Little was criticised for failing to look at her situation
independently, using his predecessor's decision of March 2002, in which Miss
Forsyth was told that her original contract would be extended for only one
year, as his starting point.

The panel said: "He accepted in his evidence that it was important to be fair
and objective in assessing the claimant but clearly put the onus on the
claimant to show why her contract should not be renewed rather than on an objective
assessment by Eton of her capability and whether to extend or determine her
contract of employment on expiration of the fixed-term contract."

The school was also criticised for failing to produce any written "capability
procedure" to the tribunal and the panel concluded "clearly none was
followed".

The panel also issued a stinging criticism of head of department Ian Burke
who had a meeting with Miss Forsyth five months before her dismissal, which she
secretly tape recorded.

The panel said: "He did undermine and bully her and that is evident by his
use of the phrase 'The kid gloves are off'."

In assessing Mr Burke's reliability, the panel concluded: "It was quite clear
there was a personality clash between him and the claimant.

"It was also quite clear that his evidence changed repeatedly both in
documentary form and as a result of cross-examination."

The panel added: "He was inconsistent, both in his evidence and in the way
that he dealt with the issue of the complainant's continued employment at Eton."

Failed to meet Eton's 'high standards'

The spokesman said the college still believed Miss Forsyth had failed to meet
Eton's "high standards".

"The tribunal rejected Miss Forsyth's suggestions that her dismissal was due
to sex discrimination or in any way relating to her unfounded allegations
regarding Prince Harry," he said.

"The college regrets that its employment procedures were not found to be up
to scratch in this case but it remains convinced that, even if these procedures
had been what the tribunal required, Miss Forsyth would still have been
dismissed as failing to meet Eton's high standards.

"The tribunal recognised that the college genuinely believed that Miss
Forsyth was not up to the job of teaching at Eton.

"It is also the college's case, still to be determined, that Miss Forsyth
should receive no compensation as she would in any event have been summarily
dismissed for gross misconduct for secretly tape-recording a conversation with a
pupil."

He confirmed that Eton will make changes to employment procedures and said it
had entered into the case to defend the "good name" of the college.

"The tribunal quite rightly saw through Miss Forsyth's publicity-seeking
allegations regarding Prince Harry," said the spokesman.

"These were dismissed for what they always have been - unfounded, irrelevant
and in the tribunal's own words, 'done with a view to attempting to improve
her negotiating position'.

"Eton did not embark on this case lightly. We knew full well it would give
rise to difficult publicity, given the existence of allegations whose real
purpose can only have been to embarrass the college into settling.

"The implications of these allegations were so serious, and Miss Forsyth's
behaviour so unacceptable, that we concluded that we had no choice but to defend
the good name of this college and to have these allegations dismissed. That
has been achieved."
PRINCE HONOURS DEAD

Prince William has carried out his first solo engagement on behalf
of the Queen in New Zealand by honouring those who died in the
Second World War.

He laid a wreath to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the
conflict at a special ceremony at the National War Memorial in
Wellington.

The Prince, who is on an 11-day visit to New Zealand, also met war
veterans.

William charmed both the excited female-dominated crowds outside and
the elderly veterans inside.

He brought his own style to the traditional royal walkabout, where
simple handshakes are the norm, by enthusiastically giving one woman
a high five.

Inside the hall of memories in Wellington's National War Memorial,
the Prince spoke to all of the 28 veterans in turn, asking them
where they had served and examining their many medals.

On his own left lapel, the future Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces wore a solitary Jubilee medal with blue and white ribbon,
given to him by his grandmother the Queen.

He placed a wreath made of red paper poppies on behalf of his
grandmother at the foot of a bronze statue depicting a mother and
two children.

It was built to represent the family for whom soldiers fight to
protect.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1187816,00.html
WALES OF A TIME
Jul 3 2005
There's a lorra, lorra fun at Highgrove as Harry and Chelsy throw
Blind Date party

By Simon Wright
Sunday Mirror

PRINCE Harry and girlfriend Chelsy Davy threw a wild party at
Highgrove last night... and paired up a dozen pals in a drunken game
of Blind Date.

The couple - reunited for the first time in eight weeks - were given
the run of Highgrove by Prince Charles as a reward to Harry for
knuckling down to his gruelling Army officer training at Sandhurst.

It's the first time 19-year-old Chelsy has been allowed to stay
there overnight and signals a new seriousness in their long-distance
courtship.

She is believed to have invited six friends from her old school,
Cheltenham Ladies College, and Harry brought along an equal number
of pals, including some new friends he has made at Sandhurst. The
party was in Club H - Harry's den in a separate annex of Highgrove
which has an underground bar, dance floor and adjoining guest
bedrooms.

A source said: "It was billed as a giant Blind Date and the rules
were that everyone had to end up with someone. None of those invited
had ever met before. Harry and Chelsy had the final say as to who
was matched with who. The booze will have flowed all night and no
doubt they had the time of their young lives.

"Prince Charles has been very pleased with the way Harry has thrown
himself into his Army training and asked some time ago how he wanted
to spend this weekend off.

"Harry told him he wanted Chelsy to stay at Highgrove and Charles
said yes. He approves of the relationship but has always drawn the
line at them sleeping together under his roof.

"It seems he now understands that Harry is 20 and has become a man -
and that it is time he treated him as such."

Harry limbered up for the bash by playing polo with his father at a
celebrity charity event near Windsor yesterday afternoon in aid of
Prince Charles' favourite charities.

After watching the Duchess of Cornwall present the prizes, he was
driven back to Highgrove in time to welcome the party's first
arrivals. It's not known whether Prince Charles and Camilla followed
him to Highgrove or spent the night at Windsor Castle.

The source said: "It was an action-packed weekend off for Harry and
he'll probably be feeling a little the worse for wear this morning.
There was also no doubt a very emotional farewell from Chelsy."

Harry is expected to return to Sandhurst later today.

PRINCE William watched the British Lions get mauled 48-18 by the All
Blacks yesterday in Wellington as they lost the Test Series in New
Zealand.

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