...for June 2002

June 27, 2002 -

• Prince William was rewarded with a kiss from Claudia Schiffer after a star-studded charity polo match. The German supermodel was watching William and the Prince of Wales play polo to raise cash for three good causes. William received the congratulatory kiss from the stunning blonde, to the delight of watching spectators. The polo match at Ashe Park, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, attracted TV celebrities including Carol Vorderman, Cilla Black, and Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris from ITV's comedy drama Cold Feet. The polo match was held in aid of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, the Hampshire Countryside Education Group and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Youth Options. From Ananova.com.

June 26, 2002 -

• Prince Harry has followed in his brother's footsteps by becoming Captain of Games for his house at Eton. He will take up the post in the autumn, sharing it jointly with another pupil. Harry, 17, will have responsibility for arranging fixtures between teams at the college and away games in water polo, rugby, soccer and other field sports. St James's Palace said the young royal was made joint captain of Manor House about two weeks ago. The appointment will be seen as recognition of Harry's commitment to sports, and not just in terms of himself. As well as playing, he regularly attends school matches as a spectator and encourages junior pupils to improve their game. For the prince, it is a sign he is making a name for himself away from the shadow of Prince William, who left the school two years ago. William was also Captain of Games at Manor House, one of the Berkshire school's 25 houses. Holders of the post have the power to punish any younger pupils dodging sports, by giving 500 lines of Latin verse or turfing them out for early morning runs.
  
  
• Prince Harry will not follow in elder brother William's footsteps after being overlooked for selection as a prefect at Eton College, the Sun newspaper reported Thursday. The paper said that while the 17-year-old's name was one of 50 put forward for consideration by outgoing prefects, he had failed to make the shortlist. Eton prefects, known as "poppers," belong to Eton Society, have extra school privileges and are allowed to wear waistcoats of their own design rather than the school's standard dress. They help masters keep the other 1,300 students in line and can fine pupils who misbehave. Only 12 lower-sixth pupils were selected this term, ready to take up their posts in September, the Sun said. Harry, like others, will get another chance in future terms. The young Prince, second son of heir to the throne Prince Charles, hit the headlines earlier this year after he admitted he had smoked cannabis. He also told his father that he had got drunk during parties he held at Charles's Highgrove country estate in western England. St. James' Palace refused to comment on the matter on Thursday, saying it was one for Eton College. A spokesman for Eton was not immediately available for comment.

June 25, 2002 -

• Prince William took in a pplo match alongside Guy Pelly while a group of girls hovered near by.
  
  
• Prince Harry has reinjured his ankle playing the Wall Game. He was seen using a cane while he took in Charles and William playing polo on June 22.
  
  

June 24, 2002 -

• Prince William looks like a really mobile soccer player — juggling the ball while taking a phone call. The new clown prince of soccer amazed onlookers with his silky skills during a kickabout with pals at a polo match. Wills — who was 20 on Friday, the day England crashed out of the World Cup — even showed he could bend it like Beckham. The sensational phone trick started off with Wills looking like he could compete with Brazil’s Samba kings. It was a keepy-uppy display with a hint of keepy-yuppie. The dashing prince hardly broke sweat as he kept the ball in the air while he chatted. But it then all went a bit wobbly, much like Beckham’s boys in Japan. Determined Wills got distracted by his call and slumped on to one knee with the phone still pressed to his ear. The heir to the throne was clearly tickled by the conversation — and ended up on in a crawling position, roaring with laughter. He then pressed his face to the ground and carried on chatting. It could have been a call from Buckingham Palace, Crystal Palace — or Sven Goran Eriksson on his Ericsson! Earlier, Wills had watched dad Prince Charles play polo at the Beaufort club near his home in Highgrove, Gloucs, on Saturday afternoon. He then disappeared for a while but returned with the football and three pals. Dressed in deck shoes, jeans, a blue shirt and sweater, 6ft 2ins tall started off the kickabout after using bins to mark out goals. Wills and his mates practised penalties, crosses and headers. One impressed onlooker said: He showed a tremendous amount of natural ability. “In particular he seems to have a brilliant right foot, just like England captain David Beckham. He can bend the ball and also hit it with the outside of his right foot. “Wills trapped the ball well, showed great control skills, and he had no fear of heading it. “He was really enjoying himself and the kickabout lasted at least 90 minutes.” Bookmakers William Hill were suitably impressed and right away made the prince a 500-1 shot to play for his favourite Premiership team, Aston Villa. Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: “Our spies tell us that he could be shaping up to be another Becks. “We are offering odds of 500-1 on him signing for Villa — and the way they have been playing, manager Graham Taylor may be getting ready to snap up Wills already. “He is also 1,000-1 to play for England in the 2004 Euro championships. “Obviously, these are long odds because we can’t recall a member of the Royal Family ever playing for a professional football team. “However, if it had been Henry VIII it would have been an odds-on shot because he would have selected himself.” William and 17-year-old brother Harry, who is an Arsenal fan, are both soccer-mad. A royal courtier said: “Both the boys love football and have been avidly following the World Cup on TV. “They are both disappointed that England are now out but think that captain David Beckham and his team did the nation proud.” Last year Prince Charles told 500 dinner guests at Aston Villa Football Club in Birmingham that Wills was an avid supporter. He raised cheers when he said: “My eldest son — and I don’t know quite why — seems to be a keen supporter of Aston Villa. “He was very interested to hear I was coming here and seems to be very keen for me to get him some Villa shorts. “ I am sure I will be open to negotiations.” Wills was back at Beaufort yesterday for the more traditional royal sport — playing polo. He took part in two matches, one with his dad. The pair were watched by Charles’s partner Camilla Parker Bowles. Popular Wills also thrilled schoolchildren by presenting them with prizes for a scrapbook competition. Action man Wills is well known for his sporting prowess, having excelled in an array of activities during his teens. He loves water sports, plays water polo twice a week while at Eton — and was a regular member of the school’s successful teams. He was the under-16 50m freestyle champion swimmer in 1997 and on March 17, 1998, won both the senior 50m and 100m freestyle competitions. As House Captain of Games, William led the football team to the semi-finals of the House Ties, the main school inter-house competition. The prince played rugby until 1998 in Eton's 2nd XV, when he broke his finger. DASHING Prince William charmed a female admirer yesterday with a demonstration of his dancing skills. Wills showed off a few fancy steps in front of the mystery blonde after playing with dad Charles in a charity polo match. After chatting and flashing a dazzling smile, William — 20 on Friday — turned to his dancefloor routine in an effort to entertain his companion. The prince spent about 15 minutes joking with the beauty. An onlooker said: “He was messing around and dancing and she joined in with him at one point. “They were mucking around and having a bit of fun and and he seemed to be trying to impress her. “He was throwing his car keys in the air and twirling them on his finger like he was trying to look cool. She was laughing along and certainly seemed impressed.” From The Sun.

June 21, 2002 -

• A transcript from Larry King Live from yesterday. Kitty Kelly mentions Amanda Bush.
  
  
• CNN has a special on Prince William for his birthday. Thanks for Lori for the link.
  
  
• When we reach the landmark age of 20, most of us look back at our teenage years with smiles of nostalgia. We recall the sneaky cigarettes behind the school bike sheds, stolen kisses at youth discos and fashion disasters we'd rather forget. But life has been a bit different for the world's most famous student, HRH Prince William. And today, on his 20th birthday, the young prince will be reflecting on a life in the public eye. His childhood and teenage years may be behind him, but William can't claim to have had an easy ride. Squabbling parents, adultery and divorce in the family, his brother's drink and drug abuse and the tragic death of his dear mother have blighted what should have been the happiest days of his life. In many ways, it's only since becoming a young adult and joining the ranks of students at St Andrews University, that William has finally had the space to become his own man. Now nearing the end of his first year studying History of Art at the prestigious Scots university, William is finally enjoying the freedom that eluded him at Eton. He loves student life and is a regular at the small town's student hang-out, Ma Bells. Despite his millions, he's often seen buying Happy Hour £1 pints at the university bar. His arrival at the university caused a frenzy last year and led to a rush of overseas female applicants keen to become the future queen. Thankfully for the young heart-throb, such intense interest has now died down. A local hotel manager said: "When he first arrived, he was followed everywhere by crowds of girls. "The entire town seemed to be 'Will-spotting'. But he keeps a low profile and blends in as much as he can with the other students and now people pretty much leave him alone." It seems the prince has taken Scotland to his heart and now his younger brother, Harry, is considering studying at nearby Dundee University when he leaves Eton. After last year's shock news that Harry was experimenting with cannabis, Ecstasy and alcohol, Prince Charles would no doubt be reassured to know his elder son was nearby, keeping a watchful eye. William was credited with offering a great deal of support to his younger brother when Harry's problems were made public. And he showed his maturity again in March this year, taking on extra responsibilities for his father, when he was left devastated after the death of the Queen Mother. After years spent resentful of the glare of public attention he and his mother, Princess Diana received, William finally seems to have relaxed into his role as the Royal Family's most valuable asset. Even his animosity towards the Press has diminished. On a recent ski- ing trip to exclusive Swiss resort Klosters, William laughed and joked with photographers. It's a far cry from the teenage boy who often screamed at photographers to "leave my mummy alone". He's taken on more responsibility and last year gave his first interview, making it clear there were areas he would not be drawn on, most clearly, how he felt after the death of his mother in the 1997 Paris car crash. His newly-appointed personal assistant, Helen Asprey, handles the many requests made on his time, but William is no puppet and insists final decisions are left to him. ALTHOUGH he is conscious of always being watched and his every decision being judged, the prince has not let it stop him having a good time. He has, however, become very wary of whom he trusts. He has fed misinformation to new friends, in order to expose them for leaking stories about him. And when he leaves St Andrews for the weekend, he'll often shun the nightclubs and trendy bars of nearby Edinburgh, preferring a private party with a small, tight-knit group of friends either in the capital, or more often, his own private lodge on the Balmoral estate. Now his first year exams are over, William is enjoying summer at his father's home in Highgrove in Gloucestershire, with Prince Charles. During his regular trips to London he makes it a priority to sift through the hundreds of letters, cards and gifts that arrive from an adoring public every week at St. James Palace. While most young men would prefer to be enjoying high jinks with their mates, William is already mindful of his duty as second in line to the throne and spends hours opening fan mail, invites and requests for help from charities. As the world's most eligible bachelor, Wills is a magnet for female attention, but claims it embarrasses him. His biggest fan, pop singer Britney Spears, has still failed to press flesh with Wills. Although she's rumoured to be back with on/off boyfriend Justin Timberlake, she may still set her sights on the prince. As for William's birthday, he is expected to spend the morning watching England's quarter-final match against Brazil. HE and Harry are obsessed football fans and have been pestering their father to be allowed to travel to Japan should the England team win a place in the World Cup final. His summer holidays are likely to be similarly sporty. An avid polo player, he plays in a team with Charles and Harry and will be making the most of his free time. So far there's been no hint of a repeat of last summer's cruise on which he was accompanied by a bevy of well-bred beauties. Instead, he wants to return to the wilds of Africa, where he hopes to meet-up with some of the good friends he made while on his gap-year travels. His good looks and startling resemblance to his mother are often remarked upon and may explain the public's deep affection for William. But there's no doubt that affection for him increased ten-fold after the untimely death of Diana in 1997, when public sympathy for William and younger brother Harry swept the nation. And his popularity continues to grow. According to a BBC poll last week, when 18 to 24 year olds were asked who should be the next head of state - William, Charles, or an elected president - Prince William was the most popular choice. Now the same age his mother was when she married Prince Charles, William may be about to repeat history and emulate Diana's ability to effortlessly eclipse his father.

June 20, 2002 -

• On Monday, Prince Charles's Highgrove team - in which he plays with both his sons and Argentine pro Alejandro Diaz-Alberdi - picked up a second trophy in two days, winning an annual pre-Ascot charity match hosted by polo patron John Manconi and sponsored this year by international film company Splendid Pictures. Highgrove, fresh from winning Sunday's King Constantine Cup, edged out the sponsor's own team 4-3, with Prince William scoring the winning goal. "Harry's usually the one to shine, but William's playing great polo," said one touchline expert. "This was a competitive match, but he didn't look out of place."
  
  
• Prince William turns 20 tomorrow. He will probably spend at least part of the day watching England take on Brazil in World Cup play. There has been no word on a party however.

June 18, 2002 -

• The girl pictured enjoying a burger with Prince Harry has been revealed as student Niki Sturgis. The 20-year-old, who goes to Cirencester's Royal Agricultural College, was seen laughing with the prince at a polo match in the town. According to her father Toby, the pair are just good friends. Mr Sturgis, who is a close friend of Prince Charles, said: "Niki and her friends live in the same area as the princes and enjoy horses, so there's nothing remarkable about this. "They're good friends who enjoy going to polo matches and both happened to be there on Saturday." A fellow student at the Royal Agricultural College said Niki was popular and was often seen in the college bar and around the campus with the prince. "She's the sort of person who Harry can confide in because she is very discreet and trustworthy," said the student. "He's had problems with his friends and knows he has to choose them carefully. "I don't know if there's romance but we've noticed they spend a lot of time together." Prince Harry and Niki's friendship came to light when they were snapped enjoying burgers while Prince Charles and Prince William tucked into posh nosh at Cirencester Park. The Sturgis family were originally from Great Somerford, 10 miles from the Prince Charles' Highgrove home, near Tetbury. They are still major landowners in the village, where Niki lives. From This Is Gloucestershire. Thanks to Anna.
  
  

June 17, 2002 -

• Prince Harry tucks into a burger — watched by a stunning young redhead who is relishing his company. He and Wills played polo with dad Charles yesterday — but after the match it was 17-year-old Harry who was first to find a tasty filly to accompany him as he became a burger king. Harry impressed onlookers in the King Constantine Cup match in Circencester, Gloucs — particularly the willowy beauty who joined him at the take-away van. The pair shared a giggle and chatted comfortably as they waited for their food. The girl watched as Harry added ketchup, then followed him adoringly as he scoffed his snack. Harry, 18 in September, was still wearing his polo kit. His mystery companion was casually dressed in a navy blue sweatshirt, jeans and trendy sunglasses perched on her head. One onlooker said: “Harry played magnificently in the match. And he must have worked up a pretty big appetite, because he soon headed for the burger van. “He was joined by this pretty girl and they were chatting away while they waited for their food. “She’s a very attractive girl and they looked like great pals. They seemed to be getting on extremely well.” The Prince of Wales, 53, Wills, 19, and Harry looked hot but jubilant after their Highgrove team beat Cirencester Park in the match, held in aid of the Hellenic College Trust. The Royal sportsmen wore matching maroon shirts with royal purple collars and sleeves for the fixture. Charles also got some female attention — winning a kiss and a hug from Queen Anne-Marie of Greece who presented him with the cup. An onlooker told the British Daily Mail: “His three friends watched Harry play polo and then he went off to the marquee where they were serving champagne and canapés. But he soon returned. He obviously wasn’t too impressed with the fancy food.”
  
  
• The girl Prince William was seen wth at a recent polo match was Amanda Bush (23 years old). She is an assistant to Claire Tomlinson who runs Beaufort Polo Club. Some tabloids say they are just friends while others say they are more.

June 13, 2002 -

• Young adults think Prince William should jump ahead of his father and become king when the Queen dies, a survey suggests. Of people questioned for a BBC poll, those aged 18 to 24 showed the strongest support for Prince Charles standing aside for his son. Thirty-five per cent supported William as the next monarch, while only 27% opted for Prince Charles. People over 24 were also included in the poll and when the answers of all generations are taken into account, a quite different picture emerges. Then, the Prince of Wales has the support of 47% to become the next King and 14% opting for an elected president. But a third of those polled still backed Prince William. There is good news for the Royal Family. The ICM poll found 63% of people did not think the monarchy was out of date. Among young people however opinion was fairly evenly split with 44% saying the monarchy was out of date and 45% saying it was not. Asked if the Royal Family cost the taxpayer too much money, 51% of all those asked said "Yes", 43% said "No" with 6% undecided. Among the 18 to 24 age group, the figures were more marked, with 62% agreeing, 30% disagreeing and 8% undecided. The BBC's royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the Queen would probably be "broadly quite content" with the survey's findings She said it clearly showed young people would like to have a younger King and that nearly two thirds of people polled did not think the monarchy was out-of-date. In a separate poll, more than 150,000 viewers voted through the internet, digital TV or by telephone during a special BBC debate entitled Our Monarchy - the Next 50 Years. Half of those who voted wanted Charles to become the next King, although the younger they were the more likely they were to disagree. One in five backed an elected president. Only 28% opted for William, although this figure rose to 37% among female viewers. The poll found 57% of viewers who voted thought the monarchy was not out of date, although the younger they were the more likely they were to disagree and this figure dropped to 47% in Scotland. Asked if the Royal Family cost the taxpayer too much money, 46% of those who voted asked said "Yes", 52% said "No", with 2% undecided. Of those aged over 65, just 34% agreed - but that figure rose to 51% among the 20 to 34 age group.
  
  
• Wearing the distinctive uniform of Eton, this is Lulu's son Jordan Frieda recreating the schooldays of Prince William. The pictures of Frieda and Eddie Cooper, who plays Prince Harry, were taken on the set of the TV drama Fathers and Sons, which covers the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. At one point, William is shown affectionately teasing his smiling younger brother. In another scene, they play rugby and football together, in a recreation of the photographs of William which were issued to celebrate his 18th birthday. Frieda, 24, is on familiar ground as he was also a pupil at Eton before reading philosophy at Cambridge University, where he dated former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten's daughter Alice. The film begins with William's horror at the 1997 car crash which killed his mother and follows events up to the present day. Both Prince Charles and Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd have been upset by the subject matter. Mrs Shand Kydd has called for the project to be scrapped, saying: 'William has come to terms with things privately - and that is how it should remain.' For her part, Lulu is understandably thrilled that her only child by her second husband, hairdresser John Frieda, is taking the first steps to emulating her fame. 'Naturally I'm delighted for Jordan,' she said. 'We're all very excited and I can't wait to see it.' Frieda, who triumphed over hundreds of Will-wannabes to land the role, has admitted that the film will upset some people. Asked whether he thought there would be any criticism when the film was screened, he said: ' Hopefully there'll be a little bit, I mean, you'd be disappointed if there was no response. But I think it will be well taken, knowing what we're going to do. 'You don't want to make it too caricatured. No one knows what this incredibly well-known, highprofile guy is like when he's just drinking his coffee or hanging out with his mates, and that's wha