Prince William Current Events 4: June-September 2005


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Status
Not open for further replies.
ROYAL ARCHIVE
http://www.royalarchive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=878&Itemid=2
Kiwi Delights Awaiting 'Excited' William on Lions trip to New Zealand Written by Angelina Monday, 20 June 2005
william%20tight%20grin.jpg
Prince William will come face to face with the All Blacks when he visits New Zealand, it was announced today.

The second in line to the throne, who is joining the British Lions on tour next week, will fly to meet their fearsome Kiwi rivals in Auckland during his stay.

William, who celebrates his 23rd birthday tomorrow, spoke of his excitement ahead of his travels.

He is also planning to visit Queenstown, the self-styled outdoor adventure capital on the south island where bungy jumping, canyon swinging, river surfing, white-water rafting and skiing are all on offer.

The Prince said: "I am really excited about going to New Zealand.

"As a huge rugby fan, I cannot think of a better place to watch what will hopefully be a hard-fought and exciting Test series.

"But I am also very much looking forward to meeting people outside of rugby and enjoying some of the breathtaking scenery for which New Zealand is so justly renowned."

Two days of his week-and-a-half long trip will be spent privately.

Clarence House said William would use this time to enjoy "the outdoor pursuits for which New Zealand is well-known".

William will also stay privately on a farm and visit a "marae" - a sacred Maori tribal home - to learn about New Zealand culture.

Visitors entering a marae are greeted with a welcoming ritual - a pressing of noses and symbolic exchange of breath known as the hongi.

In New Zealand, William will carry out his first solo public engagement, signalling a shift in his role within the royal family.

On behalf of the Queen, he will mark the 60th anniversary of the end of Second World War by meeting veterans and laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Wellington on Sunday July 3 and at the Cenotaph in Auckland on VE/VJ Day, Sunday July 10.

William paid tribute to New Zealand's courageous former soldiers ahead of the events, saying: "It will be a privilege and honour to meet some Second World War veterans, whose bravery our generation must never forget."

William, who graduates from St Andrews this week, arrives in Wellington on June 30.

The country's media is already predicting that more people will turn out to catch a glimpse of William during his stay than gathered to see his father, the Prince of Wales, on his official tour earlier this year.

Even Prime Minister Helen Clark seems enamoured with the young royal.

"Prince William is a popular and engaging young man and his visit will attract a lot of interest," she has declared.

As well as taking part in training sessions with the Lions and watching the second and third tests against the All Blacks, William will visit a primary school in Arrowtown near Queenstown and open a water polo competition near Auckland.

William, who is travelling without girlfriend Kate Middleton, was invited to support the British Lions tour by coach Sir Clive Woodward.

This will not be the first time William has visited the Pacific Ocean islands.

Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, broke with precedent by taking him on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand when he was just nine-months-old.
 
ROYAL ARCHIVE

http://www.royalarchive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=874&Itemid=2

William passes first hurdle to Sandhurst with flying colours Written by Angelina Sunday, 19 June 2005
william%20studying.jpg
Prince William passed his first test to become an officer in the Armed Forces with flying colours, royal officials said yesterday.

The Prince, who is 23 on Tuesday, got a "Category 1" pass in his pre-RCB examination last Tuesday.

It is the first step to getting a place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where his brother Harry is currently training.

However, Clarence House said Prince William - who graduates from St Andrews University on Thursday - has not made a final decision about his career.
 
great article

they are so cute !!!
 

Attachments

  • Kate et Will 00.gif
    Kate et Will 00.gif
    141.3 KB · Views: 408
Happy birthday with all the best wishes to Prince William.And a new age with more happiness come to him.
 
i don't agree with the outshining thing. i think they love each other very much, they want to have more time together that's why Wills is joining Harry. and now they can support and help each other at college. i'd love to be around my sister/brother often. but....as i have no siblings, maybe i just don't know how it is to be with a bro/sister all the time
 
Kate and William look very happy and comfortable with one another...they are absolutetly adoreable!
 
Birtheday Boy Wills rev up for Summer



Prince William and his father Charles have both been indulging in a bit of high-octane fun. Wills, who turns 23 today, arrived at Cirencester Park Polo Club on a powerful motorcycle, while the heir to the throne made his entrance, along with new wife Camilla, in a classic Aston Martin convertible.

The birthday boy's passion for motorcycles has raised a few eyebrows in royal circles, but he is obviously taking care to avoid any unnecessary risks. The royal biker was cruising along at a leisurely pace, despite the fact his Daytona 600 can accelerate as fast as a Ferrari, and he was wearing a protective jacket, gloves and boots.

William will be donning rather more conservative attire on Thursday when he graduates from St Andrews University, though. The second in line will be sporting a black graduation gown with a traditional black and cherry hood as he receives his degree from the institution's chancellor Sir Kenneth Dover.

And his summer looks set to get off to a storming start because he jets out to New Zealand next week to join the British Lions rugby team. The trip will also see him carrying out his first solo engagements, as he represents the Queen at memorial services in Wellington and Auckland.

"As a huge rugby fan, I cannot think of a better place to watch what will hopefully be a hard-fought and exciting Test series," said the Prince. "But I am also very much looking forward to meeting people outside of rugby and enjoying some of the breathtaking scenery for which New Zealand is so justly renowned."

From Hellomagazine.com
 
From Hellomagazine today


"Prince William and his father Charles have both been indulging in a bit of high-octane fun. Wills, who turns 23 today, arrived at Cirencester Park Polo Club on a powerful motorcycle, while the heir to the throne made his entrance, along with new wife Camilla, in a classic Aston Martin convertible.

The birthday boy's passion for motorcycles has raised a few eyebrows in royal circles, but he is obviously taking care to avoid any unnecessary risks. The royal biker was cruising along at a leisurely pace, despite the fact his Daytona 600 can accelerate as fast as a Ferrari, and he was wearing a protective jacket, gloves and boots.

William will be donning rather more conservative attire on Thursday when he graduates from St Andrews University, though. The second in line will be sporting a black graduation gown with a traditional black and cherry hood as he receives his degree from the institution's chancellor Sir Kenneth Dover.

And his summer looks set to get off to a storming start because he jets out to New Zealand next week to join the British Lions rugby team. The trip will also see him carrying out his first solo engagements, as he represents the Queen at memorial services in Wellington and Auckland.

"As a huge rugby fan, I cannot think of a better place to watch what will hopefully be a hard-fought and exciting Test series," said the Prince. "But I am also very much looking forward to meeting people outside of rugby and enjoying some of the breathtaking scenery for which New Zealand is so justly renowned."
 

Attachments

  • willscharles-dop1a.jpg
    willscharles-dop1a.jpg
    27 KB · Views: 212
New pics from the charming prince.:D
 

Attachments

  • a.JPG
    a.JPG
    50.4 KB · Views: 290
  • b.JPG
    b.JPG
    55.8 KB · Views: 215
  • c.JPG
    c.JPG
    122.9 KB · Views: 214
  • d.JPG
    d.JPG
    47.4 KB · Views: 294
  • e.JPG
    e.JPG
    45.4 KB · Views: 310
  • f.JPG
    f.JPG
    62.4 KB · Views: 476
  • g.JPG
    g.JPG
    54.3 KB · Views: 434
  • h.JPG
    h.JPG
    69.4 KB · Views: 387
  • i.JPG
    i.JPG
    71.8 KB · Views: 426
  • j.JPG
    j.JPG
    107 KB · Views: 357


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Attachments

  • k.JPG
    k.JPG
    68.5 KB · Views: 364
  • o.JPG
    o.JPG
    68.4 KB · Views: 239
Chance to say goodbye to Prince William with St Andrews walk-about Wednesday, 22 June 2005
william%20lounging%20st%20andrews.jpg



THE PEOPLE of St Andrews will have the opportunity to bid their fond farewells to the town's most famous student after he graduates tomorrow.

Prince William, who has spent the last four years at the university, is expected to undertake a short walk-about with his father Prince Charles in North Street to thank local people for their support following tomorrow's graduation ceremony in the Younger Hall.

The prince, who celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday, is on record as saying he has enjoyed life in St Andrews, where locals grew used to having a royal around town in shops and pubs.

He also met his long-time girl friend Kate Middleton at St Andrews.

They have resided with other friends in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the town for the past two years.

Also attending the graduation ceremony will be his grandmother the Queen, grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh and his stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall.

Following the ceremony, and amid tight security, the prince and his father, along with the duchess, will walk the short distance from the university to St Andrews Police Station in North Street, when the public will have the chance to see them around noon.

At the police headquarters the royal party will meet and thank local officers for their help during William's studies at St Andrews.

The royals are expected to leave the town centre by car immediately thereafter.

Dundee Courier, June 22 2005
 
Prince William hopes to raise water polo's profile Wednesday, 22 June 2005

wills%20water%20polo.jpg
Prince William hopes to raise profile of water polo to teenagers

Prince William has chosen to attend a water polo event in west Auckland during his up-coming visit to New Zealand to promote the sport to other young people.

He will attend the New Zealand Junior Men's Water Polo Championship at West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson, Waitakere City on Saturday, 9 July. Prince William will be seated with members of the New Zealand Senior Men's team.

The second in line to the throne, is a keen water polo player. He represented Scotland in the Celtic Nations' tournament against Wales and Ireland and his university as captain.

Scott Newman, Chief Executive, New Zealand Water Polo Association said it will be a great honour to host Prince William at the up-coming tournament. He added:

"Prince William is a fantastic role model and ambassador for the sport and we are just extremely privileged that he is giving us his time to raise the profile of water polo to New Zealand teenagers."

Water polo is the fastest growing aquatic sport in New Zealand with 15,000 members.

The blond 23-year-old water polo player, regularly dubbed one of the world's most eligible bachelors, will feature prominently at the fixture being given the task of dropping the ball in the pool to officially signal the start of the game.

The event will be attended by 650 people, mostly players and supporters of water polo, Mayor of Waitakere City Bob Harvey, Patron of New Zealand Water Polo Association - Stephen Tindall and Chairman of New Zealand Water Polo Association - Rob Borgers.

A Flippa Ball game will start proceedings followed by a demonstration between two New Zealand invitational teams before the main game.



Who: Prince William and New Zealand Water Polo Association

What: Photo opportunity of the heir to the throne at New Zealand Junior Men's Water Polo Championship

When: 9.30am - 10.15 am on Saturday, 9 July 2005

Where: West Wave Aquatic Centre, 20 Alderman Drive, Henderson, Waitakere City

Why: Prince William is a keen water polo player and accepted an offer to attend a water polo match during his visit to New Zealand.


Wednesday, 22 June 2005
Press Release: NZ Water Polo Association
 
Loverly photo mother-son

(capture from yesterday in cnn)
 

Attachments

  • wills besito.JPG
    wills besito.JPG
    20.2 KB · Views: 373
BBC NEWS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4120776.stm



William's graduation taking place

_40654568_william_pabody.jpg
The Prince is set to carry out his first solo engagement next month

The Queen, Prince Charles and other leading Royals are due to attend Prince William's graduation ceremony at St Andrews University on Thursday.

The Prince attained a class 2:1 degree in geography.

At a private event later, William will also thank Fife police for their support during his four-year course.

The 23-year-old has shown an interest in an Army career - but in the short term he will visit New Zealand where he will conduct official engagements.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the graduation will mark a significant moment for the second-in-line to the throne, even though - like his father - he may spend many decades as a King-in-waiting.

Official engagements

Prince William will visit the touring British and Irish Lions rugby team while in New Zealand.

He will also carry out his first solo engagements, representing the Queen, by attending ceremonies in Wellington and Auckland in July to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II.

During the St Andrews ceremony William will wear a black silk graduation robe with a cherry-coloured lining - denoting that he has become a Master of Arts - the Scottish name for a primary degree. With many spectators expected in St Andrews, Fife police are warning motorists of likely traffic disruption. The city's North Street will be closed during certain periods of the morning and early afternoon.

 
Prince's path to the throne takes him through city Thursday, 23 June 2005
wills%20graduation%20thumbs%20up.jpg



PRINCE WILLIAM is to work in the City as part of a second gap year intended to usher the reluctant young royal gently into a more prominent public role.

The Prince of Wales and his senior advisers spent months in discussions with William to try to devise a modern approach to life after university which respected the traditions of the House of Windsor.

In September, William will become the first future King to work in the City when he joins a financial institution for several months. He hopes that it will give him an insight into charitable fundraising.

Clarence House would not name the institution on security grounds but one theory is that he will join his uncle, Lord Fellowes, who is chairman of Barclays private bank.

Alternatively, he could have been found a position by Sir Michael Peat, who is private secretary to the Prince of Wales. Sir Michael has impeccable City connections. His family founded the Peat Marwick accountancy firm which is now called KPMG.

There was also speculation that the Prince would join Coutts, the Queen's bank.

William will also work on a country estate to reflect his flourishing interest in the environment and conservation and spend time with a mountain rescue team.

Next May he will enrol for officer training at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy at the start of a minimum three-year period in the Army. The Prince will be conforming with a tradition that has seen all Kings dating back to Henry V and beyond serve in the military.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Prince William's new private secretary, is a former high-flyer in the SAS and was a key influence in his decision to join the Army. While Prince Charles was anxious for William to reach his own decision, a friend of William said: "He understands as a future head of state it is important that he has worn the uniform so that he can look veterans in the eye when he undertakes ceremonies at the Cenotaph or if the country is involved in armed conflict."

It is expected that he will join a regiment associated with Wales to cement his future role as the Prince of Wales.

The announcement by Clarence House about the second gap year marks the end of months of agonising over how to prepare William, 23, for departure from the protective cocoon of university life.

His departure from St Andrews tomorrow means not just the passing of university life but the end of a hands-off agreement with the press. Editors agreed to give William privacy while in full-time education.

William, because of his youth, his likeness to his mother, and apparent shyness, and the fact that he will be billed one of the world's most eligible bachelors, will become one of the most sought-after targets of the paparazzi.

Yet William is ill at ease with the media and resents the way his father is portrayed in the newspapers. His brother blames photographers for the death of their mother.

Sir Christopher Meyer, the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, went to the palace as part of the discussions about William's future.

Tim Toulmin, the director of the PCC, said: "Prince William will be afforded the same protection as everyone else by the code on accuracy, harassment and intrusion. Clearly there is going to be greater interest in the Prince than in any other 23-year-old. The palace is realistic about this."

Paddy Harverson, the press secretary at Clarence House, has been meeting editors to try to ensure that there is not "open season" on William.

He said: "There is a genuine public interest in William which we will try to meet and reflect. But we hope that the media will allow William time to develop as a young man. I am hopeful but I am also realistic. But I know that the public will want William to grow without any harassment or intrusion."

Kate Middleton, reportedly William's girlfriend, will also require advice on the media. She graduated yesterday with a degree in history of art.

CAREER ROYALS
# The Prince of Wales served in the Navy from 1971-1976

# The Duke of Edinburgh was mentioned in despatches during the Second World War. He is now Admiral of the Fleet

# The Earl of Wessex set up the media company Ardent Productions in 1993 but stepped down as director in 2002

# The Duke of York flew helicopters with the Royal Navy and saw active service on HMS Invincible in the Falklands. He left the service in 2001

# Princess Michael of Kent has written three books on European royal families

# Peter Phillips, The Princess Royal's son, is now an account manager for Williams F1

# Lord Freddie Windsor, 26, Prince William's second cousin once removed, wrote a music column in Tatler before forming Brass Hat, a film production company

# David Linley, the son of Princess Margaret, owns Linley, the furniture, upholstery and lighting business in London

# The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, is a spokesperson for Weightwatchers America and the author of diet books and children's fiction

# Lady Helen Taylor, Prince William's second cousin, is an ambassador for the Armani fashion house

# Sarah Chatto, Princess Margaret's daughter, is an artist


By Andrew Pierce June 24, 2005
Times Online
 
It's now open season on Prince William Friday, 24 June 2005
william%20press%20open%20season.jpg
With his good looks and royal lineage as the future King of England, Prince William is about to enter a new era as one of the most sought-after international celebrities.

For tomorrow marks the end of a gentleman's agreement that has enabled the prince to study for his degree at St Andrew's University without being in the media glare.

The voluntary agreement between St James's Palace and newspaper editors meant William was allowed to continue his education in privacy over the past four years, in return for occasional officially-arranged photo opportunities.

A few snatched pictures have been published, the most famous intru-sion involving his uncle Prince Edward's television production com-pany which was caught filming at the university, sparking a royal row.

William's carefree days at St Andrew's will formally come to an end at a celebration ball at the university tonight.

The press will then be free to declare "open season" on the Prince who has a reputation for shyness and has appeared ill at ease when under the public spotlight.

His father's dislike of the media is well documented - as witnessed in a recent televised photocall with his sons on the ski-slopes where Prince Charles's pithy asides about BBC royal reporter Nicholas Witchell were clearly audible.

However, his mother Princess Diana had a much more relaxed relationship with the press, overcoming her initial shyness when she and Charles were courting, to blossom into one of the Royal Family's most popular ambassadors, and greatest assets.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony at St Andrew's, Prince William publicly acknowledged his gratitude for being allowed to get on with studies like any other student.

He said: "I just want to say a big thank-you to everyone who has made my time here so enjoyable.

"I have been able to lead as 'normal' a student life as I could have hoped for and I'm very grateful to everyone, particularly the locals, who have helped make this happen."

An intelligent, resourceful young man, who conducted himself with dignity at his mother's funeral, the Prince will be well prepared for his first solo public engagements in July, representing the Queen at ceremonies in Wellington and Auckland to mark the anniversary of the end of the second world war.

But how he will cope with the inevitable media frenzy for scoops about more personal aspects of his life remains to be seen.

Paddy Harveston, press secretary for the Prince of Wales, yesterday confirmed that William would no longer enjoy the protection of the privacy pact.

He said: "The last event of his time at the university is the ball tomorrow evening. Once that finishes, then his university involvement is complete, and on Saturday morning any agreement with the press is due to end.

"There are no plans to put any other agreement in place. It ended for Prince Harry when he left Eton, and they are both grown adults.

"After leaving St Andrew's, he is going to go to New Zealand on holiday. He will then spend the autumn doing some work experience in land estate management, in a city financial institution, and working with a mountain rescue team."

Although keen to gain experience of a number of different professions, Prince William is also thinking of joining the Armed Forces and recently passed preliminary examinations that would allow him to apply for Army officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

Sun photographer Arthur Edwards believes this is the course the Prince will take.

He took his first photograph of William when he was a tiny baby and has followed his progress over the past 23 years.

"Now he has finished his education he will be just like the rest of the royals and will have to take his chance," he said. "It has already started, because at the weekend he was photographed with his girlfriend. He made it very clear this was his girlfriend and they looked very happy together.

"I don't think it's going to be the frenzy that people think. People remember what happened to Diana when she was pursued by the paparazzi relentlessly. At first, she was very shy but soon got rid of that, and William is the same.

"He used to blush when you took his photograph but he has come out of university full of confidence, and I think he is going to cope with it [media attention] very well."

Mr Edwards will be following William when he jets out to New Zealand next week to join the Lions rugby team, at the invitation of coach Sir Clive Woodward.

Although the privacy agreement is ending, the Prince remains covered by the Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice - like anyone else

CELIA WIGG 24 June 2005
Eastern Daily Press
 
MIRROR NEWS

24 June 2005
WILLS THE WANNABE
Wills: I want to be a City banker.. farmer.. mountain rescuer .. soldier AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT I'LL HAVE TO SETTLE ON KING..
By Nathan Yates Royal Reporter
PRINCE William's college days ended yesterday as he declared he wants to be a City gent, mountain rescue worker and soldier.

The 23-year-old told how he hopes to follow the colourful career path after he graduated from St Andrews university with a 2:1 degree in geography.

As his dad Charles, stepmum Camilla and grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip looked proudly on, William said he was "going into the big wide world" hungry for the challenge of his work experience options.

He revealed he wants to spend time in a City finance house to "help me with charitable fundraising in the future".

Advertisement



The prince then hopes to swap his pin-striped suit for wellington boots to manage land on one of his father's estates.

William added: "The work experience in the City was something I was particularly keen to do as I feel that this is an area in which I could learn a lot.

"The land management experience will hopefully allow me to develop skills and an understanding of how best to look after the countryside.

"Joining a mountain rescue team really appealed to me as I can learn at first hand how these amazing people help save lives on a regular basis."

After his work experience is over, Wills will probably join his brother Harry as a trainee army officer next year.

The Queen made the trip to St Andrews in Scotland to see her grandson's degree ceremony despite being laid low with a sore throat for the past few days.

William graduated with girlfriend Kate Middleton, 22, who got a 2:1 in history of art. He was awarded his certificate in the university's Younger Hall.

The prince spoke with affection of his time at St Andrews but said he was "amazed" he passed the Master of Arts degree course. Wearing a graduation gown, he added: "A little bit of luck goes a long way.

"Today is a very special day for me and I am delighted that I can share it with my family and in particular with my grandmother, who has made such an effort to come having been under the weather.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St Andrews and I shall be very sad to leave.

"I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has made my time here so enjoyable.

"I have been able to lead as normal a student life as I could have hoped for and I am very grateful to everyone, particularly the locals, who have helped to make this happen.

"I am going to miss being in Scotland, I have got used to the weather and all that golf chat."

The prince had been called up to receive his degree by his Dean of Arts, Professor Christopher Smith under the name William Wales.

Clutching his certificate in a blue case, William emerged from the university hall to a resounding cheer from a 5,000-strong crowd, many of them young women.

Those gathered yelled "well done Wills" as he walked the street chatting to well-wishers.

He waved at the crowd before heading for the beer tent to have a quick chat with his college friends.

The Queen, who was greeted by Wills with a kiss on both cheeks, and Camilla mingled with guests.

They included Coronation Street actor Bill Roache, whose daughter Verity, 23, was awarded a 2:1 in history of art.

After leaving the building, William went on a walkabout with Camilla and Charles.

He was greeted by cheers from thousands of female fans who lined the streets of the Scottish town. Kate did not mix with the royal party but kept her distance and chatted instead to parents, Carole and Michael.

The prince then went to the police station to thank officers for protecting him during his four year course.

Later, he had lunch with Kate at a nearby hotel.

William is expected to attend the graduation ball on Friday with his girlfriend before flying out to New Zealand next week for a two-week tour which includes watching the British and Irish Lions rugby team in action.

Wills, who is also expected to travel to Africa in the summer, has yet to decide which finance firm he will go to for his work experience.

One option could be the Queen's bank, Coutts. Another is Merrill Lynch where his friend Edward van Cutsem works.

Despite getting a good mark for his degree, university sources said the prince struggled with some of the course work

He had to study hard in the university library during the lead up to his gruelling final exams last month.

One insider said: "He had a lot of trouble with the statistics side of geography and he had to work really hard to get his head round it.

"He did well to get a 2:1, it's at the top end of what his tutors were expecting."

During the degree ceremony, principal and vice chancellor Dr Brian Lang told Wills and the other graduates that they might have found their future spouse at the university - to loud bursts of laughter.

He said: "You will have made lifelong friends. I say this every year to all new graduates, you may have met your husband or wife here.

"Our title as the top matchmaking university in Britain signifies so much that is good about St Andrews so we rely on you to go forth and multiply."

PRINCE'S LETTER OF THANKS

TODAY is a very special day for me and I am delighted that I can share it with my family, and in particular with my grandmother, who has made such an effort to come having been under the weather.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St Andrews and I shall be very sad to leave. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has made my time here so enjoyable.

I have been able to lead as "normal" a student life as I could have hoped for and I am very grateful to everyone, particularly the locals, who have helped to make this happen.

I really wanted to specifically thank Fife Constabulary for the constant support which they have given me and to wish them well for the future. I am going to miss being in Scotland - I have got used to the weather and all the golf chat!

Although I will miss being at St Andrew's, I am very much looking forward to the challenges and opportunities which the future brings - and not least, hopefully, an ultimately triumphant Lions tour of New Zealand.

I very much hope that these work placements will give me hands-on experience in three very different but important areas. The work experience in the City was something I was particularly keen to do as I feel that this is an area in which I could learn a lot, and it may well help me with charitable fundraising in the future.

The land management experience will hopefully allow me to develop skills and an understanding of how to best look after the countryside.

Joining a mountain rescue team really appealed to me as I can learn at first hand how these amazing people help save lives on a regular basis
 
as he's going to New Zealand next month, i wonder what name it will be on his passport(if he uses one), William Windsor? William Wales?
 
CITY BETS ON WILLIAM'S CHOICE: Wanted: Smart City home for reluctant royal javascript:void window.open('http:/...=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); Friday, 24 June 2005
william%20city%20finance%20graphic.jpg




The City loves a big name. The chance to parade a former political big-wig or ex-captain of industry in front of suitably awe-inspired clients is enough to convince most deal-hungry bankers that the takeover they're plotting is as good as in the bag.

And the recent history of the Square Mile is so littered with A-, B- and C-list celebrities that many of its venerable institutions would probably fare passably well in an audition for Love Island, or Get Me Out of Here, I'm a ... Royal Banker.

To whit John Major, the former bus conductor-turned-Prime Minister who worked for a short while at private equity house Carlyle; then there was James Archer, son of Lord Archer, who managed to disgrace himself as a "Flaming Ferrari" while at Credit Suisse First Boston; and then there is Sir Alex Ferguson's son, James, who is still holding down a successful career as a fund manager.

And now, the City of London is preparing to receive one of the biggest names of them all. Prince William, the reluctant royal, is preparing to take a few months' sabbatical by working in the Square Mile, or possibly even at the City's erstwhile home in Canary Wharf.

But where will William go? And when he makes his choice, will his favoured firm actually be happy to have him?

Rumours are already sweeping through the client suites of the City's top firms about where Prince William might end up, although Clarence House is for obvious reasons keeping tight-lipped. Natural candidates include the blue-blooded bankers Cazenove, or Schroders, the stockbrokers to the Queen, or Coutts, the family's bank that is now owned by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Lazard or Rothschilds, both natural homes for any well-connected Man about the City, would also be appropriate landing places for the versatile young royal. Barclays is being named, where Williiam's uncle, Lord Fellowes, is chairman of the private bank.

He may even find himself at an American-owned institution. William would welcome the secrecy of Goldman Sachs, for example, where the royal minders could probably learn a thing or two about preventing any embarassing leaks from finding their way into the public domain.

Goldman's offices in Peterborough Court, off Fleet Street, would also afford Prince William more protection, now that the press pack has entirely moved on - excepting, of course, that he might run the risk of being doorstepped by the Beano, which still has offices nearby.

If he is prepared to leave the City for Docklands, he could do worse than Morgan Stanley. In fact, isn't the Wall Street securities firm looking for a new chief executive to replace the departing Philip Purcell?

Merrill Lynch is another candidate - his old school pal Edward van Cutsem works for its fund management arm Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

All of which is tremendous fun, of course, and once decided, Clarence House will not be able to keep the name of Prince William's chosen City firm quiet for very long. The City is famously gossipy.

But the reality is slightly more sombre. The truth is that Prince William is highly unlikely to end up at Barclays, HSBC, Morgan Stanley or Credit Suisse First Boston - all of which have enormous offices in Canary Wharf. The security issues make it all but unfeasible to offer the prince the kind of round the clock protection he requires.

And the truth is also that, although it would clearly be prestigous to be named as Prince William's temporary professional home, the sheer headache of having the paparazzi chasing him wherever he goes makes a poisoned chalice of whichever firm is chosen. All those photographers will doubtless also interfere with the serious business of the bank making large sums of money.

No, far more likely that the prince's advisers will alight on a much smaller operation where, although working, the prince has a lot less chance of being noticed. Here at the Times Online, we are loath to commit ourselves. But, helpfully, spreadbetter Cantor Index has already opened a book.

Here are the odds:

Merrill Lynch 5-4

JP Morgan Cazenove 2-1

Barclays Capital 5-2

Schroders 4-1

NM Rothschild 6-1

Barclays Private Banking 8-1

Coutts & Co 25-1

You pays yer money...


By Miles Costello, Times Online
June 24, 2005
 
The Saint that looked after Wills javascript:void window.open('http:/...=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); Saturday, 25 June 2005
william%20shopping.jpg




With Britain's most famous undergraduate living on their patch, the committed editorial team at St Andrews University's student newspaper knew exactly what to do - nothing at all

IT'S a typical freshers' week night out in St Andrews, home of Scotland's oldest and (according to a recent survey) the UK's 79th friendliest university. A group of first-year girls have congregated around the student union cash machine, all blonde hair, hipsters and innocuous chatter. Then suddenly, all is quiet, save for a few stifled giggles . "It's Steve," one girl whispers . The gaggle shuffles sideways to accommodate Steve's access to the cash machine. "He was wearing Tommy Hilfiger," declares one girl, as "Steve" strides off into the night. "If I marry him, will I become Princess Hannah?" drools another.


This exchange took place in September 2002, when Prince William had been settled in St Andrews for a year and was residing in a comfortable student flat on Hope Street, in the centre of town. Some undergraduates - mindful of the unwritten code that forbade gossiping about the university's resident royal - commonly referred to him as "Steve" or, less cryptically, "PW".

Throughout his student career, the prince was free to wander around town, buying fresh asparagus from the local supermarket, or stopping off for a pint of cider at the Ma Bells pub . And while those flustered Princess Hannahs had cooled off by week three of their first semesters , for those outside the St Andrews bubble, Prince William remained high on the gossip agenda, and the reporting restrictions surrounding his student years did nothing to abate the eagerness with which the British public swooped upon Wills-related newsflashes.

As editor of the University of St Andrews' student newspaper, The Saint, I'm privy to the inside track on the town's goings-on. Yet while our editorial team gleefully reported on the principal's use of a disabled parking bay, and brought the Kate Kennedy Club (a traditionally upper-class, all-male society) to book after they distributed non-kitemarked condoms, all matters of PW business were strictly off the record and definitely off the front page.

The Saint, staffed entirely by students, had pledged to abide by the Press Complaints Commission's code of practice, and was bound by the tripartite "gentlemen's agreement" between Clarence House, the university and the press, which restricted reporting on Prince William during his university career. In effect, this prevented the media from sending reporters and photographers to document William's undergraduate experiences, apart from the rare "set" interviews and pre-arranged photo opportunities.

As if that wasn't clear enough, in an interview with The Saint around the time of the prince's arrival, university principal Brian Lang made clear the faculty's policy on the matter.

"I would," Lang said, "take a very dim view of any information of an inappropriate nature about any member of the university being passed on. At worst, a perpetrator might find him or herself having to find another university."

While The Saint is staffed by hard-nosed hacks of the highest order, nobody wants to be turfed out of uni just for a story. It was thought prudent to refrain from making references to the prince. It was to be the story we could never break.

We didn't actively ignore his presence, but much of our vaguely Will-related coverage was in the spirit of fun. While PW basked in the luxury of one of St Andrews's most salubrious addresses, The Saint started the Hope Street Outreach Project designed to help other students living on the same street who had spent their inherited millions on Bollinger and small Caribbean islands. A year after we'd saved the yahs from almost certain starvation, we parodied E4's spoof dating show A Wife For William with our very own Wife For Will (though the Will in question, a Mr McFarlene, had no royal connections).

Then there was our constant battle to prevent St Andrews becoming ghettoised as "Prince William's university"- a misconception The Saint railed against at every opportunity. We can only hope Saint writers of the future won't have to deal with habitual references to our seat of academia as "the university formerly attended by Prince William".

Although we set strict boundaries on our PW coverage, the national papers didn't take the hint and were constantly on the phone in search of scoops. (The Daily Mail was particularly persistent, with one columnist taking a special interest in Hope Street Outreach.) In the past year, we've been inundated with press enquiries into such newsworthy fields as the prince's Sunday League action and his minor altercation with a rival surfer.

As a rule, any display of fascination with Prince William was treated with contempt on campus. Remarking that he had turned up in your lecture with bodyguards, or that you'd served him chocolate brownies while doing your Saturday job at The Bay Hotel, were anecdotes generally recounted by first years. PW chat wasn't cool, so to furnish a student rag with coverage of his daily activities wouldn't be cool, either. Occasionally, we'd have liked to be able to print pictures of him at big events, but not being able to do so wasn't a great loss.

Should PW happen to be reading this, I should clarify that I don't mean to imply that he is uncool. I wouldn't throw away my chance of a royal wedding that easily. The point is that, these past four years, the student body has treated him like any other student. That's another reason why The Saint didn't become The Will .

During his student days, Prince William played sport but that was about it. Had he dedicated his time to union campaigns, led protests, received a Blue for his sporting achievements or held an outstanding academic record, there might have been more reason for The Saint to put him on the front page.

I'm a firm believer in press freedom, but I'm almost glad the embargo existed. In theory, it was rotten to restrict the right to freedom of speech in order to protect an individual. In practice, if the embargo prevented the tabloids from being saturated with Will Buys Asparagus Again Shocker-style headlines, then it was something of a blessing .


By Jo Kerr, Editor of The Saint
The Sunday Herald
26 June 2005
 
Iwant a career in countryside, says William javascript:void window.open('http:/...=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); Saturday, 25 June 2005
william%20sheep.jpg







Prince William has set his heart on a career in the countryside and not in the Armed Forces, his closest friends say.

He hopes that his work experience this autumn, learning about land management on a country estate, will lead him towards a similar job in the future. Prince William's father, the Prince of Wales, has advised him that there is no pressing need for him to start regular royal engagements until later in his life.

According to his friends, Prince William is almost certain to join the Armed Forces but unlike his brother, Prince Harry, he is looking only at a short stint in the military.

Prince William, who was 23 last Tuesday and graduated from St Andrew's University two days later, revealed last week that he will do three work experience placements at the end of the summer: at a financial institution in the City, helping with a mountain rescue team, and on a country estate.

"The land management experience will hopefully allow me to develop skills and an understanding of how best to look after the countryside," he said.

When the prince was a boy, his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, said that he was like a "caged lion in London" and she encouraged him to spend time in the country with friends. "There is no doubt that William is a country boy at heart," said one family friend.

During his gap year before university, Prince William spent time in South America, Africa and the Caribbean. However, he told friends that the best part of the whole year was the month he spent on a farm in the West Country.

"He was getting up at 4am to milk the cows, but he loved it," said one of his close friends. "That tells you a lot about William." One royal official said yesterday: "Running a country estate is going to be part of his life at some point in the future - either as a career or simply when he becomes Prince of Wales and thereby inherits the rights to the Duchy of Cornwall [the landed estate that provides Prince Charles with his income]. Prince William has inherited his father's interest in the landscape and how it should be managed - both in a farming and an environmental way."

The minimum amount of time that Prince William could spend in the Armed Forces as an officer is three years - under a "short service commission". Last weekend the prince learnt that he had passed his first test to become an officer with flying colours, obtaining a "category 1" pass in his pre-Regular Commission Board examination. It is the first step towards gaining a place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where his younger brother is training.

A royal official said: "It is not 100 per cent certain that Prince William will go into the Armed Forces before embarking on another career, but logic dictates that his time in the military will come first. In the timetable of his young life, that is the easiest place to put it.

"Prince William is in a different position to his father. Prince Charles was heir to the throne at a young age and there was a general feeling that he had to start to engage early in royal duties after a shortish stint in the military. But for Prince William, with his father likely to be Prince of Wales for many years yet, there are not the same dynamics at work and Prince William will have more time to embark on a career if that is what he wants.

"In the end, what he does will reflect his own wishes under the guidance of his father and grandmother [the Queen].''


By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
(Filed: 26/06/2005) Telegraph

 
He's done with uni!

Prince William is done with university and I have four more years to go! :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom