Chelsy flying in for a holiday with her Harry javascript:void window.open('http:/...=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); Saturday, 25 June 2005
PRINCE HARRY has signalled his determination to ignore controversy about his long-distance love, Chelsy Davy, by inviting her to England for a three-week holiday.
The 19-year-old blonde is flying to London from her home in South Africa for a reunion with her prince tomorrow, when he has a rare day off from Sandhurst.
Last week a Mail investigation revealed the extent of links between Chelsy's Zimbabwean father and despot Robert Mugabe's brutal regime.
Multi-millionaire safari operator Charles Davy, whose company charges £5,500 to kill an elephant, is a close business partner of Mugabe henchman Webster Shamu and has been accused of profiting out of the misery of other white Zimbabweans.
But although 20-year-old Harry is aware of the concern surrounding the relationship, he is determined that nothing will come between him and his girlfriend. Chelsy's trip to England will be the first time the two have seen each other since they holidayed in Botswana at the end of April, shortly before Harry joined the Royal Military Academy.
When they parted, the young couple vowed to keep their year-long relationship going despite the 6,000 miles between them. Chelsy will spend almost three weeks in England, giving the couple a number of opportunities to be together, despite Harry's gruelling college schedule.
For the last few days he and fellow first-term cadets from Alamein Company have been on exercise in the Black Mountains.
Dubbed operation Long Reach, the young soldiers are deprived of sleep and forced to march for miles through the tough terrain in order to test their stamina.
Next week, however, cadets have their second Academy Weekend - when they leave the college at lunch-time and do not have to return until midnight on Sunday - and, according to friends, the prince has promised his girlfriend that they will spend every minute together.
An economics and commerce student at Cape Town University, Chelsy has herself been studying hard for important mid-year exams. She finished her last test on Thursday morning and spent the afternoon shopping in preparation for her trip, buying Harry several gifts.
The fact that Harry has asked Chelsy over at the first possible opportunity is a sign of how serious the relationship has become, despite concern about her family background.
Some had predicted that Harry's stint in the Army would drive a wedge between them, but according to friends this couldn't be further from the truth - so far at least.
'Like a lot of lads who have played the field and then fallen in love for the first time, this relationship has hit Harry hard,' said a well-placed source.
'Chelsy is a lovely girl. Like Harry she really loves to party but she also has a very sensitive streak and he has really been able to open up to her for the first time.
'He feels very strongly that she shouldn't be made to pay for the sins of her father.'
Although she was born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Miss Davy was educated privately in England during her teens and still has many friends here.
She will be staying with some of them during part of her visit but may also be invited to Highgrove with Harry while he is home from Sandhurst. Prince Charles has already given his younger son's budding romance his seal of approval.
By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent
Daily Mail June 25 2005