Will and Harry Unlimited

...For October 2003

October 31, 2003 -

Teenager jailed for sending suspect package to Prince William

EDINBURGH (AFP) - A Scottish court jailed a teenager to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sending a number of suspect packages to various people and organisations, including one to Prince William that he claimed contained poison. Paul Smith, 17, had also pleaded guilty to sending a bottle of aromatherapy oil laced with caustic soda to Cherie Blair, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Smith also admitted sending letters containing a powder, which he claimed was either anthrax or ricin, to parliament buildings in London and Edinburgh, Britain's interior ministry, the BBC and police. Sentencing Smith to a young offenders' institute, judge Lord Kingarth said the teenager had become "involved in a sinister and sustained campaign which was calculated to cause and did cause considerable distress and alarm". Smith was aged 15 when he sent 44 letters between 2001, and February last year. He stood expressionless as sentence was passed at Edinburgh's High Court. The teenager's lawyer had claimed that Smith was groomed over the Internet by the head of an anti-English Scottish extremist organisation, which cannot be named for legal reasons. The teenager had sent a letter to Prince William's hall of residence at the Scottish university of Saint Andrews. Smith claimed it contained poison but this turned out to be a hoax. However, the oil mailed to Blair's London residence was proved to have been laced with caustic soda. It had contained instructions for Blair's wife to rub the substance onto her face and hands. Caustic soda is also known as sodium hydroxide and can burn the skin and damage the throat and stomach lining if inhaled. However, neither Blair's wife nor anyone else was injured as a result of the packages.

October 30, 2003 -

TV viewers asked to choose Prince William's wife

Television viewers are being given a chance to choose a wife for Prince William in a tongue-in-cheek show. Programme bosses are hoping to save the prince the bother of finding a partner by putting it to the public vote. Channel 4's digital channel E4 will profile potential candidates from Europe's minor royalty in the six-part series A Wife For William.

The station said: "At the end of the series the people's choice will be revealed - a girl who may well end up being our Queen and, fingers crossed, William is watching." Royal experts have drawn up a list of 25 potential posh candidates. They include Danish princesses, well-heeled heiresses, hooray Henriettas and well-bred celebrities. Then viewers will have their choice of who they think would be most suitable for the 21-year-old. A spokeswoman said: "Given the mess the royals have made in finding their own partners, E4 proposes that the British people choose."

MISS INDIA'S GOOSEBUMPS FOR WILLS

From Jane Kerr In New Delhi
MISS India cheered-up Prince Charles yesterday, declaring she was smitten by him. TV presenter Shonali Nagrani could not contain her delight at meeting Charles in New Delhi.

She found him charming and said: "I wish I was a little older and he was younger." Shonali, 22, added: "I wish his sons were here. I just look at William and get goosebumps. All women in India think the same."

Miss India International lifted the mood caused by revelations in ex- butler Paul Burrell's book A Royal Duty. Youth worker Rahul Bajaj kept up the flattery saying Charles, who last visited India with Diana in 1992, was "as charismatic as 10 years ago." The prince today visits a homeless project. COPIES of A Royal Duty are flying off the shelves. More than 130,000 copies were delivered to stores on Monday but WH Smith sold out on the first day.

October 29, 2003 -

TIME TO SHOW PRINCE IS WILL OF THE PEOPLE

PAUL Burrell says Prince William and Prince Harry have been used as "emotional cannon" by the Royal Family following the publication of his book A Royal Duty. I'd go further and suggest that when they condemned Burrell's "betrayal" as "cold and overt" they were acting as human shields for a father too damaged, weak and morally discredited to speak out for himself. In the past week, as the book has uncovered uncomfortable truths about Diana's tortured relationship with her unloving, cheating husband, a procession of lackeys and fully-paid-up members of the Prince of Wales fan club have gathered to vent their spleen against Burrell. Other newspapers, having meticulously reported every word of his story with glee, now call him a self-serving creep and the chattering classes berate him because he's a below-stairs servant who belongs "back in the pantry".

One former palace press officer suggested in a previous existence he'd have ended up in the Tower. He forgets - though we don't - that Burrell's incarceration was on the cards and, had the Queen not halted his trial at the eleventh hour, he might well be behind bars now. The former butler insists, magnanimously, that Her Maj "came through" for him but I wouldn't be so generous. Were it not horribly apparent that courtroom revelations might seriously damage the House of Windsor, he'd almost certainly have been left to swing in the wind. The man who'd cared for the Princess when she was alive and dressed her when she lay dead, was hung out to dry for two long years while he awaited his trial. In desperation he wrote to Prince Charles and Prince William begging for help but the letters were ignored because neither father nor son was man enough to take issue with the establishment or the police. The people Burrell spent 21 years serving became savage persecutors with Prince William, let's not forget, an active cheerleader. Even after the trial collapsed he never once picked up the phone to the family he knew and had grown up with.

Now, with the royals - and his father in particular - mortified by the fear of further revelations, he's chosen, or been elected, to proffer the olive branch and apparently a meeting with Burrell is planned. The Queen is said to support this and she's right. It's about time her indulged, wealthy grandson started to behave like a grown man and future king. If he isn't adult enough to deal with this small act of diplomacy it doesn't bode well for the future. I'd suggest William prepares himself for the meeting without listening to the sycophantic voices of snooty aideswho have served his father so badly and reads A A Royal Duty instead. He'll find, if anything, the book is obsequious in its adoration of Diana as a role-model and parent.

"Wherever you looked," he writes of her home, "images of William and Harry at all ages stared back from virtually every surface. They were, quite simply, her life." How sad, then, that these two boys who were her pride and joy don't carry a torch for Diana but seem, like their father, able to consign her memory to history.

Sure, we've had a few, diffident words dragged out of William when he deigned to grant an interview on his birthday but, er, that's it. When asked to open a memorial to her in Kensington, he turned down the offer. What do they think of the garden planned for her in Hyde Park? We don't know, they've never said. After her loss, the reluctance of these grief-stricken brothers to talk about their mother was understandable. But they're public figures now with a duty - whether they like it or not - to bridge the rift between the increasingly disenchanted people of Britain and the royals. Rather pompously, William is said to have told friends that he will only be king on his terms. Correction, sonny. The monarchy is funded by taxpayers and if it survives it'll be on our terms. Meanwhile, here's a tip for William who said last week that he and his brother "are more able to speak for our mother than Paul".

October 27, 2003 -

Queen warns Wills: Don't meet Burrell

By Robert Jobson, Evening Standard

The Queen will move to stop Prince William's planned meeting with Paul Burrell because she is convinced it is a "serious and naive" mistake, senior royal sources revealed today. She and Prince Philip firmly believe William, as a future king, should not meet Princess Diana's disgraced ex-butler because it will "dignify his treachery".

The Queen, as a concerned grandmother, is also worried about the emotional trauma such a meeting will cause for the 21-year-old. But while she respects Prince William's desire to protect his late mother's memory, the Queen fears any action he takes may have long-term implications for the monarchy.

One senior Palace aide said: "Her Majesty is deeply concerned that the prince is being drawn into this affair, not least for legal reasons. Burrell has repeatedly shown he cannot and should never again be trusted. There is a distinct feeling here that Prince William is simply being used for commercial reasons. Such a meeting will only dignify Burrell's treachery."

While the Queen was informed about and endorsed the joint statement issued on behalf of Prince William and Prince Harry - in which the brothers accused Mr Burrell of a "cold and overt betrayal" - she believes nothing further can be achieved by them meeting him. Sources close to Prince William say he wants to meet Mr Burrell alone, before Prince Harry returns from his gap year in Australia, to stop him spilling more secrets. He has instructed Clarence House aides to arrange the meeting "as soon as possible".

He feels he is the best person to defend and protect his mother's memory. Mr Burrell today attacked the princes for failing to help him during his trial for theft last year. He told the BBC Today programme his book was not inspired by "revenge" but then publicly criticised Princess Diana's sons.

Mr Burrell said he would be "pleased" to meet the princes, but then added: "I would like to give them a piece of my mind and ask them why they did not give me help during the most difficult time in my life. Is one phone call too much?"

His outburst will further convince the Queen's aides that Prince William would be left exposed if he agreed to meet the former servant.

The Palace source said: "Burrell will betray William just as he did Diana. He has signed commercial contracts with news and publishing organisations to reveal secrets to make as much money as possible. He has no honour."

There are growing differences between the Queen and the Prince of Wales over the handling of the Burrell-fiasco. Charles, who is about to fly to India for an official visit, has insisted that his office at Clarence House and not Buckingham Palace handle his sons' affairs. Despite Mr Burrell's criticism, Prince William still appears to want to press ahead with the rendezvous. A senior Clarence House official said: "The request is a sincere one. He absolutely means to go."

Both Prince William and Prince Harry fear that Mr Burrell still has more revelations which may damage their mother's reputation. "They really cannot take any more," said the official.

Mr Burrell said this weekend that the letters he used in his book, A Royal Duty, were just the "tip of the iceberg". He also said that police who raided his Cheshire home in 2001 ahead of his failed prosecution, missed many items. The Old Bailey trial collapsed a year ago in spectacular fashion after the intervention of the Queen. At the time Mr Burrell publicly declared he would never betray Diana's secrets. And despite cashingin, he stills claims that his lurid revelations are an act of "loyalty".
Queen stands by William in butler row

The Queen was standing by Prince William as he anguished over Paul Burrell's controversial book on Diana, Princess of Wales, which has gone on sale. If her grandson decides to go ahead with a face-to-face meeting with the former royal butler, the Queen will support William's decision.

Responding to questions, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen's conversations with her family are a private matter. But the Queen fully supports Prince William at this time."

As copies of Mr Burrell's book, A Royal Duty, were stacked in bookshops, lawyers for the Royal Family were scrutinising its 396 pages. It is almost certain that no legal action will be taken against the former royal servant who, by quoting from private letters rather than reproducing them in full, has avoided any breach of copyright.

Prince William, 21, is currently at university in St Andrews and his 19-year-old brother, Prince Harry, is in Australia working as a jackaroo cowboy on a cattle station before enrolling at Sandhurst military academy. The young Princes launched a scathing attack on Mr Burrell on Friday for the "cold and overt betrayal" of their late mother. Diana would have been mortified at his revelations, serialised in detail last week in the Daily Mirror newspaper, the brothers said. But Mr Burrell refused to apologise for his new book and said he was "saddened" by the Princes' statement.

He said his lucrative book was "nothing more than a tribute" to Diana and he was "extremely proud" of it.
Wills and Harry will cope with this saga

JAMES WHITAKER

WE now need to turn our attentions to the two most vulnerable people in this saga and possibly the only ones who truly matter. The Princes William and Harry. They are young and still innocent. They are the ones who must be suffering most as the truth behind the behaviour of the Windsors and their courtiers is exposed. But, importantly, they are the future. As a journalist I don't want relevant details hidden from the public which is why Paul's input has been valuable, if unsavoury for some. My main criticism of the media coverage in the lead-up to Diana, the Princess of Wales's death was that none of us showed enough compassion. The pressure on her, partly induced by this remarkable lady herself, was relentless. What we must not do now is subject the two princes to a similar fate.

I know for sure there is great depth of feeling for the boys from not only Burrell but from everybody within the Mirror newspaper. Strangely, no matter what has been written about their mother in recent days I actually believe they will be able to cope rather well. Their pedigree gives them tenacity. However upset they might be with Burrell, nothing else in life will get close to what they had to suffer, aged just 15 and 12, the night they learned their mummy was dead. A LL that has gone on in the past week is small beer compared to that horror. The temptation to come out of hiding and strike back must be enormous but, wisely, the princes have resisted.

Certainly, a statement was put out by St James's Palace on Friday evening (why so late in the week?) in which they asked their former butler to lay off. Apart from that, we've seen little of either William or Harry. The former is getting on with life as a student at St Andrew's University, while Harry continues with his gap year in Australia. That very royal phrase used at the time of the Waleses' marriage breakdown, "It's business as usual", is apt. Which is why it was great that Harry played polo on Saturday and then enjoyed the rugger match between England and Samoa yesterday.

I'm not sure that any member of the Royal Family, apart from the Queen, is looked on with as much affection as are Wills and Harry. Despite their privileges they've had a pretty rotten life so far. Their ability to survive is a testimony to both Diana and Charles and the way they brought their sons up. In my opinion Paul Burrell has gone as far as he should and now the keyword, to be combined with compassion, should be "caution".
WILLS HIT BY RARE TROPICAL DISEASE

Prince taken to hospital after he catches African bug

By James Moncur

PRINCE WILLIAM has been struck down by a tropical disease and treated in hospital. Wills, 21, caught bilharzia on a recent African safari. Patients with the condition suffer fever, chronicdiarrhoeaandweight loss.

William's police bodyguards took him to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Friday night after he complained of feeling unwell. He had been at St Andrews, where he is studying at the university. The illness struck on the day Wills and his brother Harry issued a statement attacking former butler Paul Burrell for his kiss-and tell book about their mother, Princess Diana. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said Wills had been given blood tests after coming back from a month-long African safari.

The spokeswoman said: ``When William was in Africa he picked up bilharzia.

"He returned from Africa and was feeling unwell. He went for a blood test and the specialists said he had bilharzia. Prince William has a very low level of the disease and all he has to do is take the tablets and everything will be fine. He visited the hospital through the accident and emergency department because that is the best way into the building. It was a routine appointment and he got everything dealt with. Everybody that went on the trip with him will also be checked for the disease because it is very common in that part of Africa."

Bilharzia is spread through fresh water and is common in Africa but very rare in this country. Many patients catch it by swimming. The disease kills around 20,000 sufferers every year. But royal insiders were keen to stress that William, second in line to the throne, is in no danger. Sources say he has been prescribed a drug called Praziquantel, which is about 90 per cent effective.

Williamcaught the disease during a secret recent adventure holiday which included white-water rafting on the River Nile. He spent three days at the Bujagali Falls in Uganda. Wills's African adventure was cleared by Prince Charles and the Queen but only after he convinced them that the falls are among the safest in the world for white-water rafting. River beds in the area have no rocks to damage boats.

William was joined by a party of 11, including his mentor, former Guards officer Mark Dyer, and his Scotland Yard protection officers. His aides booked the trip under assumed names for �40 a day. Wills's illness comes on top of the stress he and Harry are suffering over Burrell's book about their mother. The two boys issued a joint statement on Friday condemning the former butler for his ``cold and overt betrayal''.

The princes said Diana would have been ``mortified'' by the book. And they reminded Burrell that they, Diana's children, were more qualified than him to speak for her. The boys demanded an immediate end to the one-time servant's disclosures. But Burrell hit back angrily at Wills and Harry last night.

October 26, 2003 -

Ex-Butler Burrell Tells Princes to �Grow Up�

By Tom Whitehead, PA News Ex-royal butler Paul Burrell today revealed he would never have written his controversial book if he had received �just one phone call� from the Royal Family. The former servant also said he would love to give Princes William and Harry �a piece of his mind� and told them to �grow up�.

The latest attack from Mr Burrell is certain to deepen the row with Buckingham Palace after the royal brothers accused him of a �cold and overt betrayal� of their mother. And the war of words is set to heat up tomorrow when Mr Burrell�s revelations about his former boss, Diana, Princess of Wales, in A Royal Duty hits the high streets. In an interview with BBC One�s Real Story, to be broadcast tomorrow, Mr Burrell said he would not have written the book had he had a call after the collapse of his theft trial at the Old Bailey last year.

�This is not my revenge, absolutely not,� he told interviewer Fiona Bruce.

�It would have been a very different world if the telephone had rung and the boys had said �Oh Paul we�re sorry we couldn�t help you during your trial, we just couldn�t our hands were tied. Why don�t you come down to London with Maria and the boys and we�ll do something�.� Specifically on the book, he added: �Just one telephone call would have stopped it, one. Is that too much too ask � really? �Having served the Royal Family for 21 years, is one telephone call too much? It�s not.�

He said he only decided to write the book after the �process took a hold of me and squeezed me and made me someone different.� Mr Burrell�s comments came as he prepared for a whirlwind of interviews both here and in America to promote his book. He has refused to apologise for his revelations. And there is still no indication of whether a meeting between him and Princes William and Harry would take place, despite both sides agreeing to one. Mr Burrell told Ms Bruce: �I am angry with them (the princes). Why do they listen to other people around them? �Why listen to people who always say yes and no one tells you no? I�d love to give them a piece of my mind.�

A spokeswoman for Clarence House stressed any meeting would be a private affair while a spokesman for Mr Burrell said they had not yet had a phone call. Mr Burrell told the BBC he was saddened and angry by the princes� scathing attack on him but claimed they were being used as �emotional cannons� by the �grey men in suits� at the Palace. �I felt immediately that those boys were being manipulated and massaged by the system,� he said.

�By those people who did exactly the same to their mother.�

Mr Burrell also told the BBC it was time for the princes to �grow up� and stressed they were just children when their mother was alive while he �lived in an adult world with the princess�. Up to 135,000 copies of A Royal Duty will hit book stores across the nation tomorrow, described by publisher Penguin as an �exceptional� amount. A spokeswoman for Clarence House today doubted that the young princes would read the book, or would ask for copies of it. The book went on sale in America yesterday with one million copies printed across the Atlantic, although it was too early to say how many had been sold, Penguin said. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Burrell claimed that letters, allegedly to and from Diana, which formed a main basis for the book were just the �tip of the iceberg�. He will spend the next two days doing a round of interviews defending his book, starting with BBC�s Radio FiveLive and the Today programme tomorrow morning. He is then due to fly out to America later in the week for a fortnight of promotion, a spokeswoman for Penguin said. Earlier today, a friend of Diana, Vivienne Parry, said Prince William should put the former butler �back in his pantry�.

October 25, 2003 -

BURRELL: I'LL MEET THE PRINCES I WOULD NEVER HURT

EXCLUSIVE: Butler pledge as William and Harry attack his book

By Gary Jones

PAUL Burrell has agreed to meet princes William and Harry after they
attacked his book on Princess Diana.

He said last night: "I want to look them both in the eye and tell
them why I've written this book. I think they'll feel differently
when they hear me."

The princes released a statement yesterday accusing the former
butler of "coldly" betraying Diana's memory.

But her friends said Burrell's book, serialised in the Mirror, was
not betrayal but the truth.

Diana's former butler told last night of his hurt at being accused
by princes William and Harry of betraying the memory of their mother
Princess Diana.

He said: "I'm saddened. I watched both William and Harry grow up
with my own sons and would do nothing to hurt them.

"I'd never, ever do anything other than protect their mother and
what she stood for."

He was backed by Diana's close friend and confidante Simone Simmons,
who said: "What Paul is doing is not a betrayal. Diana's life is
history and Paul is part of that. Diana wanted to put the record
straight."

Paul spoke out after the princes condemned his astonishing
revelations in his book A Royal Duty, serialised in the Mirror.

He said: "I know in my heart this book is nothing more than a
tribute to their mother. I can only reassure them that I remain the
same loyal man they always knew.

"My book captures the essence of their mother - her spirit, warmth,
tremendous character, strength and resolve - and it portrays this
unique and remarkable woman in the most positive light.

"I can't see, by telling the world how wonderful and special their
mother was during the years in which William and Harry were too
young to know the full truth, this book can be deemed anything other
than a tribute."

Paul, 44 - father of Alex, 18, and Nick, 14 - added he
was "disappointed that the "same grey suits" who briefed against
Diana in her life had now wheeled out William and Harry to attack
him.

He said: "I'm proud of this book because it defends the truth and
defends the princess.

"Every page was written with her memory in mind. I'm extremely proud
of this book. I know the princess would be too.

"Crucially, I've also received significant calls of support from
friends of the princess within the past few days, calls from people
who were part of her trusted inner circle.

"All I've ever done since the princess's death is to serve her
memory. I've not let her down. I've simply recorded the truth about
her life and corrected the lies and myths told by others.

"I remain convinced that when the princes see the book in its
entirety they'll understand how positive and warm my account is."

Clarence House said yesterday the princes would be prepared to meet
Paul to discuss their concerns. Paul is happy for the meeting to go
ahead.

He said: "I want to meet them face to face. I want to look them both
in the eye and tell them why I've written this book. I think they'll
feel differently when they hear my words and honesty in this regard.

"I've always said I'll never betray either the Queen or the
princess. I've penned a tribute to both these remarkable women
because the world deserves to know the truth.

"My only intention in writing this book is to defend the princess
and stand in her corner. I make no apologies for that."

Paul pointed out that since the collapse of his theft trial at the
Old Bailey last year he had had no contact with the royals.

He said: "All someone had to do was pick up the phone and explain
why I was let down.

"No one has ever said sorry to me for what I, my wife and sons were
put through. Nor do I say sorry now. All I've been is honest and
true."

Prince William and Harry said in their statement last night: "We
cannot believe Paul, who was entrusted with so much, could abuse his
position in such a cold and overt betrayal. It is not only deeply
painful for us but for everyone else affected.

"It would mortify our mother if she were alive today, and we feel we
are more able to speak for our mother than Paul. We ask Paul please
to bring these revelations to an end."

Simone Simmons declared: "I'm furious with the boys for making this
statement.

"None of the palace supported Paul when he was accused of theft.
He's been treated absymally by all concerned.

"If Paul had had the right support he'd never have spoken out. His
book will still be a bestseller despite what the princes have said.
It's the truth and that's what matters.

"The royals have such a problem with the truth. They need to face up
to it."

In September 2000, William spoke out about a controversial book
written by Diana's former private secretary, Patrick Jephson.

He said: "Harry and I are both quite upset about it - that our
mother's trust has been betrayed and that even now she's still being
exploited."

Paul's revelations in the Mirror included Diana's fears she may be
the victim of assassination and her despair at Prince Charles's
treatment of her.

Other letters revealed her regard for the Queen and Prince Philip.

October 24, 2003 -

Burrell refuses to apologise over Diana book

Paul Burrell has refused to apologise for his controversial book, and says he's saddened by claims from Prince William and Harry that he's betrayed their mother.

In a statement issued through his publisher Penguin, Mr Burrell said: "I am saddened at the statement issued on behalf of Prince William and Prince Harry.

"Saddened because I know that this book is nothing more than a tribute to their mother. I am convinced that when the Princes, and everyone else, reads this book in its entirety they will think differently. My only intention in writing this book was to defend the Princess and stand in her corner. I have been greatly encouraged by calls of support from some of the Princess's closest friends within the past 48 hours. I would also like to point out that, following the collapse of my trial at the Old Bailey last year, no one from the Royal Family contacted me or said sorry for the unnecessary ordeal myself, my wife and my sons were put through. Neither do I say sorry for writing this book, of which I am extremely proud and I am convinced the Princess would be proud of too. I have told the truth where the British public should know the truth."
Princes challenge Burrell to end Diana 'betrayal'

BY ANDREW PIERCE

Prince William has challenged Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell to hand over all her private papers in an attempt to stop any further "deeply wounding" revelations about his mother's life. The Prince, in an unprecedented step backed by the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, made a heartfelt plea for Mr Burrell to stop "destroying" his mother's reputation.

In a statement issued by Clarence House tonight, after a highly charged briefing for the press, Prince William said: "We cannot believe that Paul, who was entrusted with so much, could abuse his position in such a cold and overt betrayal. It is not only deeply painful for the two of us, but also for everyone else affected and it would mortify our mother if she were alive today. And, if we might say so, we feel we are more able to speak for our mother than Paul. We ask Paul please to bring these revelations to an end."

Prince William, 21, and Prince Harry, 19, acted because of their deep sense of betrayal from a man who they regarded as a friend and a trusted confidant of their late mother. Their surprise intervention came after a series of telephone calls between Prince William and his younger brother, who is on his gap year in Australia, where the impact of the Burrell revelations has been equally felt. Princess Diana famously described Mr Burrell as her "rock" who she could always rely on.

Mr Burrell, who flew to Paris to dress the princess in her favourite outfit after her death, pledged that he would never, ever exploit the memory of the princes' mother. The prince decided to speak out after enduring a week of lurid tabloid headlines based on the serialisation of Mr Burrell's book, A Royal Duty.

Prince William, in a series of telephone calls to Prince Harry begged Mr Burrell to meet them privately. A Clarence House spokeswoman said: "It would be a private meeting. The boys hope that would help to close the matter."

Prince William and Prince Harry are hoping to persuade Mr Burrell to surrender any further letters or private documents relating to their mother which could form the basis of a second and equally damaging new book. There are persistent rumours in royal circles that Mr Burrell is already planning a second exposure.

The Prince of Wales, who is described as "deeply distressed" by the behaviour of Mr Burrell, fully supported Prince William's decision to issue a rare public statement.

The Clarence House spokeswoman said: "William and Harry decided they have had enough as far as Paul Burrell's revelations go. They are appealing to Paul to draw a line under this. They feel it's destroying their mother's memory. It's very hurtful and upsetting. They would like it all to stop. They are disappointed that someone they have fond childhood memories of is behaving in this way and that someone they trusted has let them down."

Challenged as to whether the final straw was today's revelations that their mother apparently had nine romantic suitors, the spokeswoman said: "The final straw has been coming for a while."

The first revelation in the book was the existence of a handwritten letter by Diana ten months before her death predicting that she would be killed in a car crash after someone employed by the palace had tampered with her brakes, clearing the path for Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker Bowles. The book also purported to have letters from the Duke of Edinburgh to Diana in which he expressed astonishment at the idea Prince Charles would leave her for Mrs Parker Bowles.

Buckingham Palace has consulted lawyers as the copyright in the letters is vested in Prince Philip. The book is due for publication on Monday on both sides of the Atlantic and Mr Burrell is engaged in a hectic scheduled of promotional interviews across the United States.

The Clarence House spokeswoman conceded that much of the damage had already been done, but added: "We do not know what else he has got. We have no idea what else is coming. That's why the princes want to meet him to bring an end to all of this. We had no idea this book was coming. It came as a complete shock."
Harry tip for rugby

PRINCE Harry is tipped to be in Melbourne tomorrow to watch England battle Samoa in the Rugby World Cup. Cup officials expect the prince, a rugby fan, to join the 55,000-strong crowd for the blockbuster match at Telstra Dome that pits his country's team -- ranked No. 1 in the world -- against the less-fancied and lower-ranked Pacific island nation. Only a handful of standing room tickets remain for tomorrow night's clash, with all others sold out days before. It will be the biggest crowd the stadium has seen for a sporting event since the Wallabies tackled the British Lions in rugby in 2001. The biggest AFL crowd recorded was 53,000 when North Melbourne played Collingwood last season.

Also in the crowd on Sunday will be members of England's larrikinBarmy Army, usually here during the Ashes cricket series. Army leader Paul Burnham told the Herald Sun yesterday several hundred had made the journey from the old Dart for the rugby. "Cricket is the Barmy Army's main sport, but we also have a secondary sport," Mr Burnham said.

"There was no way we were going to miss the World Cup."

But he said the army had put away its rudest and most annoying chants and ditties for the rugby. "We save those ones for when we take on the Aussies in the cricket. We'll be sticking to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot on Sunday," Mr Burnham said.

Australian Rugby Union spokeswoman Bev Watts said Prince Harry was expected to be among the thousands of English supporters in the stands. "There's definitely a chance that he'll be here. He loves rugby and he went to the match in Perth," she said.

The Prince is midway though a three-month stint as a jackaroo on a remote Queensland ranch belonging to a friend of his father.

October 23, 2003 -

DARK DAY FOR PRINCES AFTER MOTHER'S DEATH

WHILE working for Diana, Burrell also became closer to her two sons. He and his family shared many happy moments with William and Harry as they grew up. But he was also there for them in the dark days after the princess died. Here, he tells of their return to Kensington Palace after their mother's death...

WHEN the princess faced losing her title of HRH she turned to her sons for comfort. She told me how William had sat with her one night, put his arms round her and said: "Don't worry, Mummy, I will give it back to you one day, when I am king," which had made her cry even more. William will be king one day, King William V. In the summer of 2003, in an interview to mark the celebration of his 21st birthday, he spoke of how seriously he took his role, and how much he wanted to become king.

I knew the boy, so it was heartening to hear him say this. I suspect it would also have been a nice surprise for his mother because she knew how much the shy, introvert schoolboy had dreaded the prospect of ascending the throne.He was reared with huge expectations and yet he didn't want the spotlight. As he went around Wales on his 21st birthday engagements, I know the princess would have been brimming with pride at the adjustment he seemed to have made. I know how proud she would have been because of her concern for his future.

"William doesn't want to be king, and I worry about that," she told me, one night in the sitting room. "He doesn't want his every move watched." She went on to telephone her American friend Lana Marks and express the same worries. The princess empathised with her son who, like his mother, was naturally shy and retiring.

He had been born second in line to the throne. At the time Harry's attributes and attitude almost made him more of a realistic prospect to take on the onerous duties of the monarch. He was more outgoing and pragmatic. "Harry would see no problem in taking on the job," said the princess. "GKH. That's what we'll call him. GKH, for Good King Harry. I like that!"

From then on, whenever Harry was visiting for a weekend, we used those three initials to refer to him. It was an affectionate nickname she shared with two other close friends, even if Harry never knew. "Where's GKH?" she'd ask, when looking for him around the house. Of course, whenever the boys were in the house, staff had strict instructions on how to address them. We were not to bow, despite their HRH status.

We were not to call them "Your Royal Highness". We were not even to refer to them as princes. They were, quite simply, William and Harry. It was all part and parcel of the princess's determination to ensure they were treated normally. After Diana's death, Michael Gibbins told me that William and Harry were coming home to Kensington Palace with Prince Charles. As they met the crowds outside, and inspected the flowers left in tribute to their mother, I was waiting for them in the inner hallway. Harry rushed through the door and hugged me, his tears soaking my shirt. William reached out and shook my hand.

THE outward courage both boys were displaying was incredible, and they suddenly seemed so grown-up in their black suits and ties. "We've come for a few things. We're just going upstairs," said William, and the two brothers went to the nursery and their sitting room. "How are you coping, Paul?" said Prince Charles, who was clearly struggling with the enormity of events. He spoke politely and calmly, but he looked distant as he wandered around the apartment, lost in thought. He went upstairs.

I followed, without being asked. At Highgrove, this wouldhave been the height of presumption because, when I worked under his command, my presence was requested, or expected, at lunch or dinner. But in a domain that was no longer his, I could not be dismissed. He was now in my territory. Whether a friend or the future King of England, no one was left out of my sight. I FOLLOWED him into the sitting room, and he walked to the writing desk, standing over it. He opened a top drawer, looked up, saw me watching his every move, and closed it again. William's voice broke the awkwardness. "Are you ready, Papa?" All four of us went down the stairs together. "We'll see you soon, Paul. We'll be back," shouted Harry, before they all disappeared out of the front door. William and Harry returned to Kensington Palace two weeks before Christmas 1997. I had prepared the apartments with flowers and plants, to make them look as homely as possible, and nanny Olga Powell was with me in the sitting room, awaiting their arrival. The boys burst through the front door in a jolly mood, looking forward to Christmas at Sandringham.

I walked round the apartment with them, holding a handful of yellow Post-it notes to label what should go where, and who owned what item. The boys were moving, with Prince Charles, within St James's Palace, from an apartment to York House, their new London base. William and Harry scurried from room to room, gathering books, cuddly toys, photographs, posters, videos and paintings, then decided which sofas, chairs and rugs they wanted to take with them. William was the more methodical of the two. He mentioned jewellery, then dismissed it. "Oh, we can do that in the New Year, there is no rush," he said.

The one thing that struck me was how polite he was, even when it came to selecting his own possessions. "Can I have this ... Would it be all right if I have this?" "William," I said, "everything here is yours and Harry's. You can have whatever you want. There is no need to ask." He walked into the L-shaped wardrobe room, and stood facing a collection of Chanel, Versace, Jacques Azagury and Catherine Walker creations. "What should we do with Mummy's clothes?" he asked. "I'm not sure whether you are aware," I said, "but the Spencers are planning an exhibition at Althorp, and they want key possessions and costumes to be included in that - including the wedding dress." "No!" William retorted sharply. "I definitely do not want them to have that." "Why not?" said Harry, chipping in. "I just don't, that's all," William snapped, "but they can have some of Mummy's dresses.

We can do that in the New Year too." It was the princess's wish for her wedding dress to be sent to the National Dress Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her elder son was making it clear that he didn't want it to go to Althorp. So where is it today? It's on display at Althorp. Then William continued around the nursery corridor. "I'd like that rug, that sofa, that chair... those curtains, that drinks table..." and we remembered how the princess had spent �30,000 on new carpets two years earlier.

It was poignant to watch the two brothers going around their rooms, selecting items, and watching William take charge of his younger brother. "Can I have my bed, please, Paul," Harry asked, "and that chest of drawers?" "Oh, you don't want that, Harry!" said William, getting all paternal. "There's not enough room for that." "Yes, there is," Harry shrieked, and I could see the princess shaking her head and smiling.

There was no dispute when they entered their sitting room downstairs, location of their huge wide- screen television. "It's far too big for Highgrove. Can it go to York House, please? It will fill one wall!" William said. He was always in charge of the electronics and visuals. I smiled because I sensed that Prince Charles would not approve. He hated the boys sitting in front of the television watching mindless programmes. He rarely watched television unless an informative documentary was being screened.

Then we entered the sitting room, and I think that was when memories stopped them in their tracks, because this had been their mother's room, and they felt it. Silence descended. William stood looking at the photographs on the table. Harry stood over the writing desk, touching everything in a daze. After a few minutes, William's voice halted the reflection. "I want the giant hippo, Paul," he said, pointing at it.

Mother and sons would all lie back against the huge cuddly toy on the floor to watch television. When the tour was finished, the apartments were littered with yellow Post-it notes, items of furniture labelled "W - York House" or "H - York House". As they searched through the video collection and flicked through the CDs, I remembered that 1997 was to be the first year ever that the princess would have had the boys to herself for Christmas Day: she had agreed in the summer with Prince Charles and the Queen that they could break away from the tradition of Sandringham.

She had planned to spend Christmas with her sons at the K-Club in Barbuda.BUT even though the princess was no longer with us, I still wanted them to have a reminder of a Kensington Palace treat: a tradition they could take with them to Sandringham. I had prepared a Christmas stocking for each of them. As the boys were saying goodbye and rushing down the stairs, I stopped them. "Because I have always been responsible for making up your stockings every year, I could not let this year pass by without doing the same," I said. Surprise registered on both their faces. "I have even sewn up the tops so that you cannot get to the contents!

I rather doubt they will survive, though, until Christmas morning," I said, handing over the knitted stockings the princess had used every year. "Oh, they will, Paul," said William, "and thank you so, so much." Harry ran into me and gave me a hug. Together, we walked to the front door. "Now, you know exactly where I am. If you want anything, then all you have to do is call me," I said. "We will, Paul," said Harry, "and we will see you in January when we return from skiing with Papa."

When their stockings were tucked safely into the back of the Land Rover Discovery with the rest of the belongings they had collected, they wound down their windows, William in the front, Harry in the back. "Bye, Paul!" they shouted, as protection officer Graham Craker drove them away. I had stood there so many times with the princess, waving them off. She always turned to me and said: "The house will be quiet now. I'll miss ma boys."

October 22, 2003 -

Backpacker Harry flies to the Packer getaway

PRINCE Harry flew from Western Australia yesterday to Scone, in NSW's Hunter Valley, where he will reportedly spend time with Australia's richest man, Kerry Packer, at his property Ellison. The Prince flew by private jet to Tamworth airport early yesterday afternoon before being ushered by minders to a waiting Bell helicopter which was believed to have taken him to the compound.

Dressed casually in a chambray shirt and carrying a backpack and dufflebag, by all accounts the prince looked prepared for a weekend away with the Packers. The property is the Packer family's primary retreat and is regarded as one of the finest polo establishments in the world.

Harry, 19, is a keen player. He stayed at the Queensland property Tooloombilla, near Injune, as guest of the Hill family � Sinclair Hill, the family patriarch, was the polo coach of Harry's father Prince Charles. The Prince's departure from Perth, where he watched England defeat South Africa in their Rugby World Cup pool game, came amid more revelations about the content of a tell-all book about to be published by the butler of his late mother Princess Diana.

Diana's former butler Paul Burrell is believed to have drawn heavily from a series of private letters between her and senior members of the royal family. While Buckingham Palace has issued no official reaction to the contents of the book � reportedly including accusation of death threats and mental illness � London sources said palace staff were trying to find a way to stop publication.

October 21, 2003 -

Mum wasn't murdered
By PAUL THOMPSON
and CHARLES RAE

PRINCES William and Harry remain convinced their mother Princess
Diana was not murdered, aides said last night. The brothers were outraged by Paul Burrell's publication of a letter in which Di told of her fears of a plot to kill her. And they saw the former flunkey's actions as the "ultimate betrayal".

One aide said: "They wish Burrell would go away. The last thing they
need is for all this to be dredged up again. Burrell has proved what they have known all along � that it is the
staff who betray the secrets of the Royal Family and not their friends. They will be upset and angry by what he has done."

Wills, 21, and Harry, 19, have repeatedly dismissed numerous
conspiracy theories which began after Diana died in a Paris car
crash in 1997.

A senior royal aide said: "Prince William and Prince Harry are aware
of what has been said. They have never believed it was anything other than an accident."

Prince Charles has also dismissed speculation that there was a plot
to kill his ex-wife.
A Clarence House source said: "Like the Spencer family, the prince
has accepted the investigation into the accident by the French
authorities."

Word that Burrell was reopening speculation about Di's death was passed to William yesterday morning in a call from Clarence House. Harry, who is in Australia on a gap year, was also phoned and warned.
They have refused to have anything to do with their mother's ex-
butler since he was acquitted last year of stealing hundreds of Di's
belongings. He wrote a series of scathing articles condemning their father and
the Spencer family.

Burrell, 45, said he wanted to meet the princes, pictured right, and hand back items he claimed he was holding in safe keeping.

But an aide said: "They never want to see or speak to him again. As far as they are concerned he is simply an ex-member of staff who has tried to make money from the memory of the late princess."

Burrell is cashing in on his time as Di's "rock" with a book to be published next week.

Charles has been told that he is powerless to act against him. The servant had not signed the usual confidentiality clause which prevents members of the royal household from talking about their
life in service.

Aides are seething. One said: "Burrell will just not go away. It is
outrageous that he claims he is simply putting the record straight
when it is obvious all he is doing is making money out of his time
with Diana."

Burrell has even outraged his own brothers Graham, 37, and Antony,
42, of Grassmoor, Derbys. A source close to them said: "The two of
them are steaming mad.

"They feel Paul has betrayed the Princess's memory for money and
caused the Queen even more hurt in the process."

The pair knew Di gave their brother a letter setting out her fears in 1996. But neither imagined Burrell would ever make it public.

One of Graham's closest friends said: "Graham doesn't think it will do any good at all bringing this out into the open. He said to me, `It's just going to stir up a hornet's nest and upset the Queen'. Graham and Antony knew the Princess themselves. They know as well as anyone that she was in a distressed state when she wrote the letter.

"Neither of them think her death was anything other than an
accident."

Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, 34, of Oswestry, Shrops, survived the Paris crash. But the ex-Para did not wish to comment on Burrell's revelations yesterday.

October 18, 2003 -

HARRY BOPS AS ENGLAND SINK BOKS
PRINCE Harry throws his arms up and dances for joy yesterday as England's rugby heroes clinch victory over South Africa.

Big fan Harry, 19, took a break from the Australian cattle ranch where he is spending three months of a gap year to watch the vital World Cup clash in Perth.

Wearing an England No 10 shirt and a beige baseball cap, he took a seat in the north-east corner of the Subiaco Oval stadium. The Prince, who was a keen rugby player at Eton, joined other England supporters including Jane Woodward, the wife of head coach Clive.

After England crushed the Springboks 25-6 he leapt to his feet to celebrate, grabbing thrilled Joan in a bear hug.
Harry's England Glory

Prince Harry shook off royal niceties to cheer England on to victory in their rugby union World Cup match against South Africa. The 19-year-old joined the thousands of fans at the Subiaco stadium in Perth, Australia. And rather than take a seat in the executive boxes, Prince Harry - a regular at the Twickenham rugby ground in west London - took his place in the stands. He was flanked by security guards, pals and Jane Woodward, wife of England manager Clive.
As England back Will Greenwood raced through in the second half to score the only try of the game, the Prince and his group erupted into celebration. Prince Harry arrived in Australia in September to spend three months working on a farm in Queensland rounding up cattle and sheep.

One onlooker in the crowd said: "Half the people didn't know where to look - at the game or Prince Harry. It's good to see that someone as high profile has him can make it to a game of rugger and sit in the stands."

Rugby's royalty watched by the real deal

By Tom Wald

The England-South Africa World Cup clash was fit for a king - or at least third in line to the crown with Prince Harry making a hasty arrival last night. Wearing a replica of England hero Jonny Wilkinson's No10 jumper, the holidaying royal slipped into Subiaco Oval for the clash of the rugby powerhouses. Harry was well-assisted by a scrum of security staff who split a pack of photographers with an effort that would have even made England's renowned forward pack proud. He sat with the wife of England coach Jayne Woodward.

It wasn't quite Twickenham, it sure wasn't Ellis Park, but the Perth venue didn't look like an Australian sporting venue either. The invasion of English and South African supporters transformed the AFL venue into a sea of mainly red and white, with a strong shade of green, as the Australian Rules heartland was turned into a World Cup frenzy, at least for a night.

Scalpers were understood to be offering tickets for the price of $1500 as droves of supporters gathered in Subiaco before the kick-off. Local pubs had been fighting for the tourist dollar all week with the Leederville Hotel renamed "Bok Town" while an area of Northbridge was called "The English Pub Fest". The Moon and Sixpence proved its allegiance to the mother country by giving away hundreds of English flags during the week. A Fremantle pub, the Sail and Anchor, truly got into the spirit of proceedings releasing two new beers for the clash, the Springbok and the Victory Lager.

Patrick Caley from Durban said the pre-match atmosphere was unique to the quadrennial event.

"It is wonderful to see the opposition socialising on a friendly basis, I'm not so sure after the match what is going to be like," he said

"It is very close to South Africa, it is an eight hour flight and that is why you have got a lot of South Africans who have flown over, it is just around the corner for us."

Meanwhile England fan Simon Smedley, 28, had no doubts the Red Rose would prevail. The Bath man expected England to finally pick up the Webb Ellis Trophy, which was tantalisingly on display at the ground last night.

"It is now or never, it is the best chance they have ever had," he said.

October 17, 2003 -

Woodward feels the strain of a royal presence
From Ashling O'Connor in Perth

The supposed arrival of Prince Harry in town has caused quite a stir. Not least at the England training ground this morning where swarms of Perth's paparazzi descended on a tip that the young Prince would be there.

Clive Woodward, the England head coach, is barely tolerant of themedia at the best of times but to have a Channel 7 helicopterhovering overhead and rival Australian broadcasters filming from the perimeter road while his players were supposed to be walking througha series of "secret moves" was really testing his patience. If hehad hair, he would have been tearing it out. Throughout the tournament, England has signed up to a policy ofallowing cameras into the first 20 minutes of their trainingsessions, after which time the SAS volunteers doubling as thesecurity guards at all 35 training venues around Australia send journalists packing.

In the spirit of openess (which the England camp thoroughly lacks judging by the about-turn on the availability of Matt Dawson and Richard Hill for Saturday), this arrangement was supposed to placate the media looking for fresh stories and images to fill a week without England action. All it has succeeded in doing is creating tension.

Woodward resents the presence of photographers and cameramen while they in turn are less than pleased to be offered repetitive snaps of the England players going through their hamstring stretches.

And the tension really is now at its height, ahead of the South > Africa game tomorrow. So to be disrupted by rumours of a royal visit was the last thing Woodward wanted. "Apparently the word was Prince Harry would be there [at training]. I know we've got injuries but they're not that bad," Woodward said, proving he is physically capable of cracking a joke (Claude Saurel, the Georgian coach, said you would struggle to get a smile out of Woodward even if you bought him a bag of tickles).

"I have a lot of respect for Prince Harry but I would not invite a member of the Royal Family to our final training session before South Africa. He wasn't there. I don't know where he is."
Prince Harry, on a gap year in Australia, will be at the match however. John O'Neill, chief executive of the Australia Rugby Union, said he had discussed security arrangments with Buckingham Palace. "I don't think a potential royal presence presents a problem," he said.

"It's low-key, it's unobtrusive and will be handled accordingly with the precautions in place that would normally be afforded a member of the Royal Family. It's a private visit, which the ARU has discreetly facilitated, in accordance with the Palace's request."
If he is a fan of either Dawson or Hill, then Prince Harry will be disappointed. Having named both players in his starting line up on Wednesday, Woodward announced that they would not take the field due to injury. Kyran Bracken, himself blighted earlier in the week with a back problem, replaces Dawson at scrum half with Andy Gomarsall on the bench, while Lewis Moody stands in for Hill in the role of flanker with Joe Worsley as a substitute.

"This is not the game to take a risk on players' fitness," Woodward said. "Kyran is a very experienced player, so are Lewis and Joe. It doesn't matter how many caps Hill has, he's not fit. It's not about individuals. It's about a team winning tomorrow night."
Hill and Dawson are big losses. They are both big presences in the side with bags of experience. Hill, with 61 caps, would have been making his 36th start as part of a cohesive back-row unit with Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back. That fluidity has been broken at quite the wrong time. Meanwhile, the Rugby World Cup has been deprived of an intriguing match up between Dawson and Joost van der Westhuizen, his South African counterpart at scrum half. The Springboks must sense an opportunity. England fans will hope it is entirely misplaced.

Harry's dash

By VIVIENNE OAKLEY in Perth

THERE were rumours. There was misinformation. There were decoys. And
finally there was a prince. The third in line to the British throne and England's No. 1 rugby supporter arrived at Perth Airport at 2.20pm yesterday � his private jet taxiing down the runway seven hours after it left Queensland. While security guards created the impression he was to leave by car,
Prince Harry was bundled into a helicopter at the rear of the
building and flown away. His destination � believed to be a private residence � is unknown,
but it is clear he will be in the crowd at the World Cup clash
between England and South Africa tonight.

Australian Rugby Union managing director John O'Neill confirmed he
would be attending, but remained tight lipped as to the details. It has been suggested the royal redhead may attend the game adornedwith face paint and wig � making it near impossible to identify him in a sea of 43,000 similarly attired fans. The ARU confirmed this week that it had offered Prince Harry a
private box at Subiaco for the game. The reply was that it would not be required as he was in Australia on
a private visit.

Prince Harry has been working as a jackaroo at Tooloombilla station, 700 km north west of Brisbane, for the past 3 weeks. A spokesman for WA Governor Lieutenant General John Sanderson also
said there had been no official � or even unofficial � contact from
the royal.

Since his arrival in Australia, Prince Harry has only had one
official engagement.

Prince Rumors fuel England fracas
Clive Woodward was left fuming after England's final training session before their crunch match against South Africa was disrupted by Prince Harry. A gang of Australian cameramen positioned themselves outside the perimeter fence of England's Hale School training base as captain Martin Johnson and the rest of the 30-man squad prepared to go through their secret moves for the Pool C match at the Subiaco Oval.

The crews from Channel Nine, Channel 10 and ABC refused to budge, despite repeated requests from England security officers and director of communications Richard Prescott. At one point a helicopter carrying another TV crew from Channel 7 hovered overhead, with door open and zoom camera protruding, as the players went through their warm-up routines. In a farcical bid to foil the cameramen, the England team coach was driven across the playing fields to try to block the view of the TV men, while other England vans were used to perform synchronized blocking maneuvers as the TV crews sought better vantage points along the perimeter fence.

Apparently, the word was that Prince Harry, who is expected to attend Saturday's game, was due to visit the England squad with a good luck message, though there was no sign of him in the 20-minute session which was open to photographers

"We don't care about the rugby, we're not here to film any moves or anything like that," said one ABC cameraman. "We've just heard the Prince was supposed to turn up here. I can't understand what they are getting upset about. It's not rocket science. We're not after trade secrets or anything."

The frantic security activity, however, did highlight the rising tension in the England camp as they prepare for the match which could make or break their World Cup. A win against the Springboks would give them a smoother route to the final in Sydney on November 22, while defeat would almost certainly pitch them against New Zealand and Australia in successive matches.

October 13, 2003 -

CHAS FURY AT WILLS UNI SWAP
By Annie Brown

PRINCE William has angered his father Prince Charles by giving up his history of art degree course.
Royal insiders said Charles was angry that his eldest son had "wasted his time" by ducking out of the course after two years. He will now spend his last two years at St Andrews studying geography.

And pals say William is now talking seriously about going to Africa for two years when he leaves, before settling down to life as a farmer.

William, 21, will eventually inherit the Duchy of Cornwall estate
which is run by the Prince of Wales.

A friend said last night: "William has a more natural aptitude towards geography. He's been thinking about giving up history of art for quite a while and during the summer holidays, he made up his mind."

Another royal source added: "Obviously, the Prince of Wales is disappointed he feels a lot of time has been invested in it and it has come to nothing."

Charles is also worried about his son's plan to return to Africa, after spending his summer breaks in Kenya and Uganda. It would be a headache for his father's aides, who expect William to begin his own royal duties.

A source said: "People are hoping he'll change his mind, so everyone's being careful not to put too much pressure on him."

October 12, 2003 -

Harry rated 'pretty cute'
JESSICA LAWRENCE

PRINCE Harry met a fair dinkum Queensland princess when he attended an outback rodeo. The Prince, who is working as a jackaroo on Tooloombilla, 700km northwest of Brisbane, made an unscheduled appearance at the Injune Rodeo last weekend, much to the delight of locals. Queensland hospitality was extended by Chelsea Bartlett, 8, and her sister Janelle, 12, from Tewantin.

Horse-mad Chelsea met the 19-year-old prince just before she was crowned the Queensland Rodeo Association Charity Princess.

"It was pretty scary at first, but after speaking with him for a while it was quite cool. He was asking me about my sash and the rodeo princess. He's pretty cute."

Janelle said she explained the details of barrel racing to the Prince.

"We walked up and said hello and he started asking us which competitions we had entered. It was quite funny actually, because Chelsea walked up to the wrong person at first and asked if they were Prince Harry. He's not as cute as William but he's really nice."

Yesterday, locals confirmed Harry was still staying at the property owned by the friend of the late Princess Diana, Annie Hill, and her husband Noel. It is understood he was the guest of honour at a special dinner hosted by the Hills for local families on Friday night.

One local who asked not to be named said: "He's definitely still here and he'll be here for a while yet."

Another said: "He's still out there enjoying himself. They're a lovely family who he has a real connection with."

Chelsea's mum, Sue, who was sitting near the Prince at the rodeo, said Harry was transfixed by the bull events.

"He came and sat right in front of our chairs, so we were only four feet from him the whole time," she said. "People were going up and saying hello but there was no fuss made.

"He was videotaping the rodeo a lot of the time and was making comments about different riders."

October 5, 2003 -

One rodeo, my prince will come

By Andrew Stevenson

A week after being forced to sit inside watching videos, Prince Harry finally made it to the rodeo yesterday. And the locals loved it. The young prince arrived at the Injune Rodeo, just north of Roma, in Queensland, in a tight-knit group from Tooloombilla Station where he has been working as a $250-a-week jackaroo. Harry spent a relaxed afternoon sitting on the grass and sipping a can of Coke as he watched bull-riding and bareback horse riding. He was accompanied by Annie and Noel Hill, the Australian couple hosting the Prince on their 16,600-hectare property north-west of Roma. With nearly 1000 locals, including many jackaroos and farmhands, they enjoyed beautiful spring sunshine and temperatures just topping 30 degrees. Eschewing the standard Akubra for a blue baseball cap, Prince Harry largely kept to himself. But the star turn, whose scheduled arrival at last week's Mitchell Rodeo was cancelled due to fears the Prince would be besieged by photographers, could not be totally ignored.A local girl in hat, cords and checked shirt introduced herself to him and got a couple of warm smiles. A jackaroo wandered up for a chat. Others shook the young royal's hand.

Injune Hotel licensee John McEwan said locals were pretty excited that Prince Harry had turned up to the rodeo.

"We didn't want him to leave. We just want him to be able to experience what he's come here to do," Mr McEwan said.

Injune, the nearest settlement to Tooloombilla, is a quiet country town with a population of only 500. Milling cypress pine and raising beef cattle are its main industries. Injune's police sergeant, Greg Caletti, said a bigger than usual crowd had gathered at the rodeo, the final in a competitive series held annually in the region. He said the extra people were probably there to see Prince Harry.

"It's the biggest event of the year at Injune," he said. "It's probably the only event."

Last week Prince Harry's decision to spend several months in Australia as part of his gap year looked likely to end on a sour note. Photographers snapped him going about his daily chores on Tooloombilla, and the young royal retreated indoors. Officials at the Prince's London residence of Clarence House appealed to the media to let the Prince enjoy his stay in relative peace.
Rodeo prince

JESSICA LAWRENCE

PRINCE Harry has come out of seclusion to experience the true warmth of outback Queensland. At exactly 2.45pm yesterday, dressed in jeans and a baseball cap, a relaxed Harry walked through the ticket booth at the Injune Rodeo, 700km northwest of Brisbane. Later, sitting on a grassy hill overlooking the arena, he laughed and joked with his host Noel Hill and Noel's son George while local people watched. As junior cowboys from all over Queensland took part in a bucking bull contest in the Queensland Rodeo Association state finals, Harry could be seen pointing to the arena, his attention firmly captured by this slice of Australian life. Flanked by security and sipping Coke, he sat for more than an hour with the Hill family and friends from Tooloombilla, the property 50km west of Injune where he has spent the past 10 days.

An excited Sarah Massey, 17, said: "I can't believe he is here."

The jillaroo, who was born in England and now works on Roma Downs property, said: "This is a great chance for him to see what the Australian bush has to offer."

Queensland champion bareback rider Nick McGuire, 23, from Toowoomba, said he was "happy for Harry to be here".

"I always suspected he'd turn up and I hope he enjoys himself," he said.

While local girls were waiting with anticipation to see the royal redhead they dub"gorgeous", Nick was unfazed.

"I'm sure most of the girls around here would be impressed � until they met me."

Saddle-rider Jason Halpin, 31, from Roma, said Harry would be getting "the full Australian atmosphere".

"Rodeos and ringing are the two things that will really give him a taste of this country," Jason said. "This will absolutely top off his trip."

And while Prince Harry may be half a world away from London, he didn't have to look too far to find a queen. National Rodeo Council Queen Kate Mulcahy, 24, from Molong, said she would "love to meet Harry. I think I could handle being queen but you wouldn't catch me moving to Buckingham Palace," Kate said.

"I'd just miss the bush too much."

Outgoing Junior Rodeo Charity Queen Jessie Woolley, 17, said her mum Barbara had seen Harry's entourage in Roma throughout the week.

"My mum had to rescue one of his bodyguards when he visited the ANZ bank on Wednesday. He was trying to figure out how much 500 pounds is in Australian dollars."

Outgoing Junior Rodeo Queen Trish O'Neil, 18, from Dalby, said she was disappointed Harry hadn't been seen "out and about" in the area.

"But he must feel under a lot of pressure from his family and because of his position. At least he's got to come and see the rodeo."

Rodeo organizer and owner of Hillside property David Campbell said while he hoped to get a chance to meet Harry, he wouldn't know what to say.

"Do you say 'His Royal Highness' or do you just go up and call him Prince Harry? Either way, I'm sure he'll enjoy the rodeo because all his family are pretty horsey."
Prince Harry attends Qld rodeo

He could almost have been just another cowboy at the rodeo: he paid his $10 to get in, wore boots and jeans, and sat on the grass filming the action of the bull-riding competition at Injune, in outback Queensland.Sure, he wore a baseball cap instead of an Akubra, sipped soft drink instead of beer, and was shadowed by security, but Prince Harry clearly enjoyed mixing it with the locals - even if he was good- naturedly described as "a useless pommy jackeroo".

The third in line to the British throne made the first public appearance of his outback adventure when he turned up at the Queensland Rodeo Association state finals at Injune, 700km north- west of Brisbane.

He wandered up to the ticket booth at the Injune rodeo grounds just before 3pm, and was one of 600 paying adults among the 1,000-strong crowd, said Injune Rodeo Association treasurer Sue Wilkens.

"Harry paid his $10 just like everybody else," Mrs Wilkens said.

"He certainly got his money's worth, because he'd never been to a rodeo before, and he was lapping it all up. He had a ball. He videotaped almost all of the action."

Mrs Wilkens said Prince Harry, host Noel Hill, Hill's son, George, and others from the Tooloombilla cattle property took up a vantage point on a grass hill overlooking the competition arena. Injune Rodeo president Jamie Johnson said Prince Harry had declined an invitation to ride a steer, but happily accepted some friendly ribbing.
Prince Harry brings economic boom to rural Qld

While Prince Harry's visit to inland Queensland is being kept deliberately low-key, the economic benefits are being felt by the local community. The royal jackaroo was the star attraction at the weekend's Injune rodeo. Bungil Shire mayor Rob Loughnam says the young royal has only been in the area for a fortnight and already the local economy is booming.

"Obviously having the visiting media and the security personnel, it's provided a great financial boost for the district. Hotels and pubs, the helicopter pilots, have reported incredible results in the past couple of weeks."

October 2, 2003 -

Prince Harry is Royal patron of marathon walk

A CHARITY walk organised by a Northampton television researcher has
received the stamp of Royal approval, with Prince Harry agreeing to
sponsor her gruelling 84-mile trek.

Natalie Pinkham, the former long-term girlfriend of Northampton
Saints and England star Matt Dawson, has denied rumours of a
relationship between her and the teenage prince. But she admitted the prince has agreed to donate an undisclosed figure upon his return from a gap year trip to Australia.Miss Pinkham is halfway through the trek in aid of a Motor Neurone Disease Association charity, which is due to end tomorrow.

She said: "Harry agreed to sponsor me last week, at my birthday, and
in return I've promised to sponsor him in one of his upcoming
charity ventures."

Miss Pinkham, the daughter of county property magnate John Pinkham,
refuted suggestions in January last year that she and rugby-loving
Harry were more than just good friends. Yesterday she said she was enjoying the gruelling walk, which hopes to raise �5,000 for charity.

The 27-year-old said: "It's a real challenge, but it's been
fantastic to get out into our beautiful countryside for such a
worthwhile cause. I am feeling rather tired and have some horrible blisters, but we've raised over �3,000 already and donations are flooding in."

Natalie is taking part in the walk with her friends, Carrie
Cunningham and Sian Isaac, to increase awareness and provide hope
for people suffering from muscle-wasting motor neurone disease.
They are supporting Carrie's husband, ex-New Zealand rugby star
Jarrod Cunningham, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), a rare form of motor neurone disease, last June.
Carrie said the 35-year-old former London Irish and Wasps star, who
was forced to retire from the sport, is coming to terms with the
illness.

She said: "Jarrod is doing really well. The doctors have written him
off as terminal, but he's determined to beat it and prove them all
wrong."

Proceeds from the Carlisle to Newcastle walk will go to the Salsa
Foundation, which was formed a year ago and has already raised more
than �100,000 through events in New Zealand and England.
The walk ends at St James Park, the home of Newcastle United
Football Club, where the women will be met by team manager Sir Bobby
Robson and former England captain Alan Shearer.