Here is the Wales' Christmas '99 pic. I know its bad, but I'll try to get a sharper image ASAP!
PRINCE Charles was slammed last night by anti-bloodsport campaigners as Prince William joined him for the first fox hunt of the
season.
Animal activists said he was snubbing public opinion after moves to outlaw hunting with dogs in Scotland and Government pledges to
ban it UK-wide.
The young prince rode out to hounds with the Duke of Beaufort's hunt at the weekend while younger brother Prince Harry followed on
the back of a motorbike.
Last night Les Ward, director of Advocates for Animals accused Prince Charles of "sticking two fingers up to the British public."
He said: "The monarchy should be showing a lead. Instead they are showing the exact opposite, that you can do what the hell you want to wild animals
and no one will care a hoot."
Douglas Alexander, director of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "It is of great concern that Prince Charles seems to be making a statement in
support of fox hunting at a time when the Government has said it is against the sport.
"It is inappropriate action for members of the Royal family to be taking."
He added: "It is doubly unfortunate that it is the young prince who is being seen to support abuse of animals in the name of sport."
Prince Charles is a backer of the pro-hunt Countryside Alliance in England and supporter of the Scottish Countryside Alliance.
The Duke of Beaufort's hunt, only a few miles from Prince Charles' home, is a favourite of him and mistress Camilla Parker Bowles.
Prince William, an accomplished horseman, showed his confidence and daring in the saddle as he kept pace with the other 200 riders on the hunt.
Dressed in a tweed jacket and jodhpurs, he laughed and socialised with the other riders.
International Eventer Tony Pellett, who had joined the ride, said the young princes clearly enjoyed their day out at the hunt.
He said: "Prince Harry was travelling around on the back of a bike. I think he is learning the ropes.
"They were very sociable and mixed well with everyone."
Prince William and Harry have joined their father for hunts in the past, although he has always ensured that they are not allowed to witness the killing of
the fox.
Allan Murray of the Scottish Countryside Alliance last night defended the Royals' right to go hunting if they pleased.
He said: "Prince William is free to choose whichever countryside pursuit he wishes.
"Why should the young prince be criticised for this?
"People should not be targeting him as being right or wrong. He shouldn't be pushed one way or another. Hunting is still there, he is doing nothing
wrong."
In a recent poll, more than 70 per cent of Scots said they were against fox hunting and it is likely that the Scottish parliament could ban it by next year.
A bill brought in by Labour MSP Mike Watson is currently on hold while the Standards Committee investigate a complaint from Tory MSP Ben Wallace.
He accused Lord Watson of breaking parliamentary rules by failing to declare help he received from Advocates for Animals.
It is hoped that another MSP will table a bill if Lord Watson has to withdraw his.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has also said he wants to see a ban as soon as possible.
DELIGHTED anti-nuclear campaigners sent Prince William posters and leaflets yesterday after he wore a waistcoat covered in CND
symbols.
The 17-year-old prince stunned teachers at Eton school when he donned the eyecatching gear for lessons.
The design raised eyebrows because it seemed to clash with William's ambition to join the Army after he leaves school.
He is already a leading member of the school's cadet corps.
CND representative Lional Trippett said yesterday that the organisation was thrilled.
He said: "We have written to Prince William and sent him some of our literature in case he is interested."
But aides at St James's Palace, where Prince Charles's office is based, moved quickly to crush hopes that Wills was a closet peace campaigner.
They said the schoolboy prince simply borrowed the unusual waistcoast from a friend when he couldn't put his hands on his own.
A royal aide said yesterday: "He only wore it for a day."
Fifth and sixth form pupils at Eton are encouraged to wear waistcoats as part of the traditional school uniform.
The symbol was designed in 1958 for the first CND march.
However, it is now recognised as the symbol for peace, particularly in the United States where it was used during civil rights marches and anti-Vietnam
demos.
LONDON, Oct 5 - Several stunning girls are being invited to
a Millennium Eve party which Britain's Prince William is
throwing at Windsor Castle near London, the top-selling Sun
tabloid reported on Tuesday.
The Sun said Queen Elizabeth had given her 17-year-old
grandson permission to hold the party at the historic castle,
which is near elite Eton College where he goes to school.
The Sun said William, eldest son of heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and the late Princess
Diana, had promised his friends a night to remember.
"He is taking personal charge of all the arrangements -- and has told told chums they can stay
overnight in castle rooms," said the tabloid.
It quoted the source as saying: "I doubt if there will be much sleeping going on that night."
Will he or won't he? The saga of Prince William's proposed outback sojourn is
continuing with suggestions of a royal tiff and a friendly warning from a fellow
aristocrat not to head for Australia "unless you can stand the pace".
According to latest reports, the Queen and Prince Charles have apparently clashed
over suggestions that Prince William should spend an after-school "gap" year
working on cattle and sheep stations in Australia and Argentina.
Prince Charles thinks the trip will turn the 17-year-old into a man. The Queen fears
that Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, will be hounded by the
paparazzi.
A fresh snag is that Mr Edward Van Cutsem, the 26-year-old financier son of a
friend of Prince Charles' - who is apparently being asked to chaperone William -
has just been promoted in his job, and going to New York.
Friends say Mr Van Cutsem, who was a page boy at the wedding of Prince
Charles and the then-Lady Diana Spencer, in 1981, is reluctant to interrupt his
career.
And now the young aristocrat, Mr Edward Ramsbotham, who will inherit the title
of Viscount Soulbury, has warned William that he faces suffocating heat, deadly
snakes, mosquitoes and nothing to eat but freshly slaughtered kangaroo in the
outback.
"Don't do it unless you can stand the pace - and remember, there are no pretty girls
in the Australian desert," Mr Ramsbotham warns in an article in the Sunday
Express.
Although Buckingham Palace will not comment officially on whether the trip will
proceed, insiders are being quoted in the media. They say the Queen fears that tall,
blond William, who has the same star quality as his late mother, is bound to attract
media attention wherever he goes, and wants him to go straight to university.
PRINCE William said a prayer for his mother at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral
yesterday.
William, 17, his brother Harry, 14, and four generations of Royals bowed
their heads in thanks for Princess Diana on the Sunday before the anniversary
of her death.
In contrast to last year, Diana was remembered by name as the Right
Reverend John Cairns opened his 45-minute service with a moving tribute.
The emotion-filled day came as the young Princes faced fresh heartache over
the publication of a book by former Life Guards officer James Hewitt on his
five-year relationship with the then Princess of Wales.
Princes William and Harry watched
Britain's newest fighting force put
through its paces in an awesome display
of military power during a visit to
Suffolk.
The royal teenagers joined their father,
the Prince of Wales, and defence
secretary Lord Robertson for the official
launch of 16 Air Assault Brigade at RAF
Wattisham.
Prince Harry was clearly enthralled as
elite paratroops, tanks, armoured
vehicles, helicopters and Harrier jets
simulated bombing attacks.
Prince William was more restrained and
for much of the time held his hand up to
the side of his face, shielding himself
from photographers. At one point, both
boys giggled as an armed Land Rover
screeched around the Tarmac in front of
their feet, burning rubber from its tyres.
And for a few seconds both boys closed
their eyes and appeared to doze off in
the bright sunshine.
After the display, William and Harry were
given private viewings of some of the
equipment and transport the new
brigade will use if it goes into battle.
They were also given the chance to
experience a ride in a simulator used for
training Lynx helicopter pilots.
The Princes were presented with an
enamel plaque of the new brigade's
insignia - a sky-blue striking eagle on a
checked background of maroon and
sky-blue.
A spokeswoman for the Prince of Wales
said the boys had been invited to
attend the display with their father and
had readily accepted. She said neither
had said they wanted a career in the
armed services but both were interested
in the military.
Charles, William and Harry travelled
together on the royal train from Balmoral
to nearby Stowmarket before being
driven to the airfield.
The young Princes rarely appear in
public with their father. The last time all
three were seen together was believed
to be at a polo match in Windsor in July
LONDON, Aug 22 - Is Britain's Prince William descended from Shakespeare? A
German academic claims to have found clues to a blood link between the bard and
Britain's royal family, the Sunday Times reported.
A new book points to evidence hidden in paintings to argue that Shakespeare had
an illegitimate daughter Penelope who grew up to marry the second Baron Spencer -- from whom
William's mother the late Princess Diana was directly descended.
The book by Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel of Mainz University will be published next month
as "The Secrets of Shakespeare's Dark Lady," the Sunday Times said.
It said the book names the woman with whom Shakespeare had the affair as Elizabeth Vernon, a
lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I.
A portrait of her known as The Persian Lady in Hampton Court Palace bears a sonnet claimed to be
by Shakespeare, the paper said. A portrait in another collection is said to carry a miniature image of
the playwright's face.
As for whether Shakespeare's genes could reassert themselves in 17-year-old Prince William, the
son of Diana and Prince Charles, the Times noted that so far William has excelled as a sportsman
but is also thought to be a good English student.
PRINCE OF THRILLS: The royal could be star guest at the
Millennium Dome celebrations
Prince William is set to be the crowning attraction at the
massive Millennium Dome party.
Organisers are desperate for the heart-throb royal to take centre
stage for the New Year celebrations.
And, if talks to persuade the Prince succeed, it could coincide
with his first ever official public engagement.
Wills would be joining the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
along with 1,000 VIP guests including Premier Tony Blair.
Favourite
A royal insider revealed: "The Prince marks the way forward for
the royals - he is an incredibly positive image for the
millennium.
"He will grow to be one of the nation's favourite royals and, as a
young man with such a public role ahead of him, he is our most
powerful image of our hopes for the next century.
"Attending such a milestone event will also be an incredibly
moving experience for him. To begin his role in public life on the
dawn of the new era is a fantastic opportunity for him.
"The Palace may try to stop it but the Prince is likely to regret
it if he turns this chance down."
Although Wills has shunned the limelight in the past, he has
started to build his profile.
He took part in a photo call for the Queen Mother's 99th
birthday earlier this month and recently posed for pictures after
passing his driving test.
Buckingham Palace said yesterday that no final decision had
yet been taken on where William would celebrate the new
millennium.
Celebrating
A spokesman said: "We have said before that Prince William
does not undertake formal public engagements. As yet, we
have no idea where he will be on New Year's Eve - it is far too
early to say."
Prince Charles is expected to spend the night celebrating in
Scotland and other royals will attend events around the country.
The Dome will be at the centre of lavish celebrations planned in
London for millennium night.
More than 10,000 people will be invited and will witness one of
the capital's biggest ever firework displays.
At the stroke of midnight, as Big Ben begins to chime,
fireworks will start to explode over the Dome and signal the
start of an extravaganza along the Thames.
PRINCES WILLIAM and Harry earned the gratitude of a motorist and his
passenger when they interrupted a night out in London to help to push a
broken-down car off the street.
Simon Thompson, the driver, and Stephen James, both 28, were struggling to
get their BMW off the road near Sloane Square on Tuesday when the female
driver of a green Range Rover pulled up and called out: "Do you want a
hand?" A group of young men immediately got out of the back and
volunteered to help push.
It was only as the group got nearer that Mr Thompson, a computer software
salesman from Welwyn Garden City, Herts, and Mr James, an off-duty
policeman, realised who two of them were. The Princes and their friends, who
were all dressed casually, then helped to push the N-reg BMW, which had a
flat battery, 30ft to a driveway.
Mr Thompson said: "Stephen got out and was about to try and push the car
when a Range Rover coming in the opposite direction stopped and the
woman driver asked if we needed a hand. Before we could answer, Prince
William jumped out and dashed off to get a friend. Then Prince Harry hopped
out the other side. "Stephen said to me, 'Do you know who that is?' and I said
'No'. "
Mr Thompson and Mr James were going for a drink when their car broke
down. Mr Thompson said: "The Princes didn't hesitate, they just jumped out
and put their backs into it. They acted as though it was no big deal. I could
not look them in the face because I did not want them to feel uncomfortable,
but it is amazing when there are two Princes pushing your car down the road.
It was hard to concentrate on the steering, but I had to make a big effort
because I did not want to crash the car. I have only had it a few days."
Mr James, who serves in the Metropolitan Police, warned Prince Harry not to
"do his back in" as he helped to push the car. He said the Princes' three
bodyguards, who were travelling in an accompanying car, smiled when he and
Mr Thompson realised that they were in Royal company.
Buckingham Palace said the Princes, who are on holiday from Eton, were on
an evening out with friends when they saw the men in trouble and decided to
give them a hand. They then continued their evening.
Camilla Parker Bowles is believed to have joined the Prince of Wales and his
sons Princes William and Harry on a yachting holiday in the Greek islands.
The three princes arrived in the Greek capital Athens on Wednesday after
celebrating the Queen Mother's 99th birthday in London.
St James's Palace has declined to discuss details of the 10-day break, which comes just weeks
before the second anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, because it is a "a private
holiday".
It is thought to be the first time divorcee Mrs Parker Bowles has holidayed with William, 17, and
Harry, 15. Her own children, Tom and Laura, are also expected to join the royal party on board
Greek shipping tycoon John Latsis's luxury yacht the Alexander, which has been lent to them for
an annual summer break for several years.
Prince William was thought to be behind the surprise inclusion of Mrs Parker Bowles in the
holiday party, also believed to include six of the young Prince's teenage female friends.
Mrs Parker Bowles, 52, was not invited to the wedding of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
However, Prince William is said to have urged his father to invite her after realising his father
would not see her for a month.
The princes will follow the Mediterranean cruise with their traditional August break at Balmoral,
where Mrs Parker Bowles would be unable to visit Charles, and William is said to have wanted
his father to be happy.
Her son Tom's presence on the opulent 400ft yacht, which includes a disco, may also raise
eyebrows after recent disclosures that he took cocaine at parties.
Society girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a regular royal holiday guest, has been barred this year after
admitting she was fighting cocaine addiction. Although her parents Charles and Patti and sister
Santa Sebag-Montefiore are believed to be among the party, Charles is thought to have been
concerned about her problem and bizarre behaviour around William on a similar cruise three
years ago.
However, the Prince of Wales is also thought to have judged his 25-year-old godson Tom's
apologies to the family had earned him the right to attend.
PRINCE William is considering studying at a Scottish university in a move
which, it was claimed last night, would improve the Royal Family's image north
of the Border.
The prince has visited Edinburgh and St Andrews universities to see the facilities on offer. He is
understood to have arrived in Scotland at the beginning of his summer holidays from Eton, where
he is studying for English, history of art and geography A-levels.
Royal watchers said the move is being discussed by Buckingham Palace and isseen as a way of
making sure the Royal Family maintains a high profile in a devolved Scotland.
Royals who have gone on to university have normally opted for Cambridge, and Prince William's
decision to studyin Scotland next autumnwould represent a break from tradition.
As the heir to the throne, the prince would be surrounded by a complex security operation
similar to that in place at Eton, which involves a round-the-clock police guard.
He has also been protected from potential kidnappers by wearing an electronic tag which lets his
guards keep track of him.
Pupils at Eton were warned by school officials they faced expulsion if they passed onany
information about theirfamous classmate.
Allan Ford, an Edinburgh-based security expert, said: "It could be a logistical nightmare for the
Royal Protection Squad. They have their own methods. They would have to check out
classrooms and living accommodation and possibly rugby teams the prince might play for.
"There would inevitably be some degree of disruption to university life and the planning would
have to be done far in advance."
Officials at both Edinburgh University and St Andrews University refused to comment on the
prince's future. The prince's grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, is the Chancellor at Edinburgh
University.
But Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine, said it was a distinct possibility that Prince
William would study in Scotland.
"Edinburgh, in particular, is the fashionable place to go for young students from aristocratic
backgrounds. He would be equally at home in either Edinburgh or St Andrews and would be
more out of the spotlight than if he studied in England.
"William absolutely loves Scotland and most of his friends will probably be going there to study
after they leave school. But like any boy of that age, he must keep his options open. He might
not get into Cambridge and has to have alternatives."
Harold Brooks-Baker, the publishing director of Burke's Peerage, said he felt the prince would
chose St Andrews over Edinburgh.
"It would certainly be cosier and more fitting for a young man of his temperament. It is being
talked about at the palace as a way of maintaining the Royal Family's links with Scotland."
Graeme McAulay, the president of the Edinburgh University Students Association, said Prince
William would get a warm welcome from his fellow students in the capital and hoped he might
campaign against student poverty.
Steve Durrant, the president of St Andrews University Students Association, said the prince
would fit in with student life in the Fife town.
Prince William has passed his driving test just 24 hours after posing for pictures
at the wheel of a car, it is reported.
The 17-year-old prince leaped out of his Ford Focus and punched the air in
delight on hearing he had passed the test at the first attempt, The Sun said.
He took the test in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, near the Prince of Wales's Highgrove home, it
added.
A lorry driver told the paper he was parked at a disused airfield when he saw the car pull in, and
then witnessed William's delighted reaction to the news.
The unnamed driver realised what he had seen when he watched the L-plates being removed
from the car and new green ones used by recently-qualified drivers being put in their place.
He said: "I knew then he had passed his test. It was fantastic to witness the moment."
PETER Phillips' influence on Prince William now seems to have gone beyond
the world of sport.
For the future king is following the lead of his favourite cousin in the looks
department, too.
Out is the long blond fringe William has had for years and in is the new short cropped style
favoured by 21-year-old Peter.
The striking resemblance between the two emerged yesterday when Wills showed off his new
rugged look at a polo meeting at Windsor.
He finished it off with trendy silver-framed wrap-around sunglasses.
Princess Anne's strapping son is a firm friend of William and has helped shape him into a tough,
superfit teenager.
Indeed the Prince, whose sporting prowess has grown rapidly in recent years, is eager to
emulate Peter.
He has hero-worshipped his cousin, who played a major role in helping him through the tragedy
of his mother Diana's death.
Gordonstoun-educated Peter, who played rugby for a Scotland side at 15, encouraged William
to take up the game.
He has also taught him the finer points of cricket and urged him on with horseriding. They also go
shooting together.
William, 17, recently showed his strength by leading a three-man team to victory in a gruelling
triathlon race.
And earlier this month he spent a week roughing it in a spartan shack in a bid to "toughen up" for
his dream of joining the Parachute Regiment.
He is also captain of the school swimming team at Eton and is among Britain's 100 top 50-metre
free stylers in his age group.
Peter's influence is keeping William at an arm's length from wilder members of the Royal Circle.
Serious questions were recently raised in Buckingham Palace over Camilla Parker Bowles's son
Tom.
Tom and society girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a close friend of Prince Charles, recently admitted
having problems with cocaine.
At yesterday's bash at Windsor, William rubbed shoulders with the daughters of disgraced
ex-Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken.
He sat at the same table as 19-year-old Alexandra Aitken during lunch for 500 specially-invited
guests.
Her twin sister Victoria was also one of the guests.
Aitken, 56, was sentenced last month to 18 months for perjury and perverting the course of
justice.
William had a great time according to onlookers as he laughed and joked with friends.
In an attempt to keep cool as temperatures soared, he took off his smart black jacket and tie.
A fellow guest said: "William was very relaxed. He was chatting away to everybody, and I'm
sure that included Alexandra because she was sitting at his table."
Another of William's pals at the lunch was 22-year-old Tamara Vestey.
Her father Mark used to play polo with Prince Charles, and the pair have known each other for
years.
After the meal, William was whisked from the marquee by car to the royal box to watch the
polo.
He joined his grandmother the Queen to cheer on the players.
There was no sign of either his father Prince Charles or younger brother Harry.
Other celebrities watching the event included footballer David Ginola, former newsreader Angela
Rippon and novelist Jilly Cooper.
LONDON, July 26 - Britain's Prince William showed off his driving skills to
photographers on Monday in his first official photo call in Britain since the death
of his mother in a Paris car crash nearly two years ago.
British newspapers adopted a tough new code of practice after the death of Princess Diana in
which they pledged to respect the private lives of children of the rich and famous.
Since then, William and his younger brother Harry have been protected from the
rough-and-tumble of being royals in a tabloid-hungry country. Their father Charles, the Prince of
Wales, has vigorously defended them from press intrusion.
British papers said Monday's photo call had been organised on the basis that the pictures would
clear the way for a snap-free summer for the two princes.
Photographers were invited to Prince Charles's Highgrove country retreat where William was
due to drive up the sweeping gravel entrance with his driving instructor, Sergeant Chris Gilbert of
the Metropolitan Police driving school.
Charles and Harry stood on the doorsteps and watched William arrive and park the silver Ford
Focus. The prince opened the window and obligingly smiled and grimaced for the assembled
press.
A palace spokeswoman said William had been driving on private roads since June when he
turned 17 and was given a Volkswagen Golf as a birthday present.
"(Today) was basically a photo-opportunity where the Prince of Wales could meet the driving
instructor, whom he hasn't met before," she said.
PRINCE WILLIAM enjoyed a friendly chat with Victoria
Aitken, the daughter of the jailed Tory former minister
Jonathan Aitken, when the pair met at a polo match
yesterday.
The 17-year-old Prince sported trendy wraparound
sunglasses inside a marquee at Smith's Lawn, Windsor,
where he watched England play Australasia at the Cartier
International match.
The annual event attracts many well-known names and
faces from the film and media business. Prince William,
who arrived with two friends and two bodyguards, was
among a host of younger polo enthusiasts including Miss
Aitken, 19, and her twin sister Alexandra.
He took his place for lunch between Tamara Vestey, 23,
niece of Lord Vestey, and Katharine Bearman, 24,
daughter of the insurance broker Garth Bearman.
Cnd Joy As Wills Wears Symbol
Prince William invites girls to
millennium party
William warned off Australia by chaperone
Wills Prays For Mum
NEW BRIGADE SHOWS OFF
FIREPOWER TO PRINCES
Is Prince William descended from Shakespeare?
THE WILL-ENNIUM
Princes give push to driver with a flat
battery
Camilla 'Joins Princes On Greek Holiday'
Prince William may study at Scottish
university
Prince William 'Passes Driving Test'
Why Wills Is Turning Into Cousin Peter
UK's Prince William in star turn for
photographers
William meets Aitken's daughter
BY ANNIE FLURY
