Harry Wales wows the Welsh
Prince Harry grinned and cavorted before an audience of pupils and staff from Cathays High School in Cardiff yesterday. In return he was greeted more like a pop star than a member of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry nursing a baby in Wales
On a first day of engagements in Wales, Harry was there to learn about the school’s work with disadvantaged children in Africa by forging links with a school in the kingdom of Lesotho, home to Harry’s own charity, Sentebale.
At one point Harry held a small baby and joked, “It’s not mine!” He then paused in front of Matthew Taylor, a red-haired 12-year-old who said after meeting the Prince: “We all thought he was going to walk past but he actually took the time to stop and talk to us. He said to me ‘I’m ginger - gingers love gingers.’”
Harry will be joining members of his regiment, the Blues and Royals, in Lesotho later this summer to help build care facilities and repair infrastructure for projects supported by Sentebale.
The Prince certainly demonstrated his common touch among the people of Wales yesterday. As the second son, his gurning and comedy routines are a breath of fresh air. For Prince William, though, they would be a performance too far.
Very true, John–splendid post! Prince William, as the Heir, must always display a certain dignity and regal reserve in public. Prince Harry’s own personality and his commonality need not be held in check to that degree, and it is wonderful to see him relating so well in Wales! This young generation of Royals is ushering in a wonderful age in Britain. Here we have two splendid brothers, Prince William who will be King and Prince Harry who will lend strong support to his brother and do excellent work for the Crown and country. Further, we have two lovely young ladies, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, close to their cousins, whom I feel are going to flower into marvelous young women. Finally, we have Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, who, while too young at this writing to forecast their future, seem ideally parented to become fine and useful adults in the fullness of time. These are blessings to celebrate and we should!
By Gigi on June 6th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Indeed we should, Gigi. They are growing up very well and to the public’s taste.
By John on June 6th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Harry seems to have turned a corner. Although he doesn’t need to check himself as much as William does I was getting quite worried last year when he was getting into fights and falling down drunk outside of clubs so this is a refreshing change!! He still has that cheeky side to him I’m sure!!
By Jackie Mccoy on June 6th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
This post really brings two words to mind: Princess Diana. And Gigi, you forgot Peter and Zara. : )
By Fiona on June 6th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I didn’t forget Peter and Zara because my focus in my post was young Royals who would be doing the work of the Royal Family in the future, supporting the Crown. That includes the children of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, but does not include the children of the Princess Royal because they have no Royal title, receive no monies from the Civil List, and perform no duties for the Crown. Peter and Zara are two fine young persons who I hope in time will be offered a title, accept the title and the responsibilities that attend it, and take their places in support of the monarch, but we have not gone so far at this time.
By Gigi on June 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I agree that they are different and will invariably conduct themselves differently, not only because they are different individuals but also because they have different roles. I just worry that William has recently been stumbling (or seen to be stumbling) through a series of gaffes while Harry is hitting a stride.
I think the root of the problem is that William’s introduction to the armed forces appears forced and mishandled while Harry’s seems to have brought out the best in him.
By Dan on June 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Does Jamie Lowther Pinkerton manage both William and Harry? I just wonder sometimes why they are right on the mark with engagements such as the above with Harry and the work that William did at centre point and then some times are just a PR disaster? It might just be the boys having an off day or the fact that no one can be perfect but just wondered….
By Jackie Mccoy on June 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I think Harry is great! He relates well to people and they are all smiling and happy to see him. No positive interviews from the people are needed–even though they’re nice to read–the pics say more than enough about how happy everyone was!
I also like that he has started a great charity, one that does something real and helps people in need, and that he sticks with it. He visits Lesotho quite often to work with Sentebale, named “forget-me-not” to honor his mother as well as the AIDS victims.
And he is doing so well in the military. I think what makes people like Harry so much is that not only is he friendly, but he isn’t afraid to stop and talk to people, and relate to them. He can relate to the soldiers because he went to Afghanistan for 10 weeks and has first-had experience of what their day-to-day life is like. He can relate to those who do charities as well because he is working on one himself. And his personality allows him to relate to the people whom he seemingly has nothing in common with, who come from very different backgrounds than he does.
Also, I think the “party prince” image is overdone. I know the tabs like to portray him that way and gleefully post any pics of him out clubbing the next day, but he is really busy and works hard. And he almost never clubs anymore anyway… lol!
By leogirl on June 7th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Gigi William as the heir has to display a certain dignity and regal reserve? I have to disagree with that.
If you look at the pics of Harry you can see he is dignified and regal. Harry is comfortable with people and speaking while William clearly is not. What you seem to take as regal reserve and a certain dignity I take is someone who is afraid of possibly taking a mis step and failing.
By Trudie on June 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
“Harry is comfortable with people and speaking while William clearly is not”
William has an obvious problem with the media, probably as a result of things that went on in his childhood, but the reports that come out after his official duties are always full praise of how approachable and friendly he is and how he has the ability to put those he meets at ease. Did we not have, during the fist week of May, many articles and photographs of William in Wales. Were there not photos of him playing football with school children, playing a game with someone at a youth centre joking that he had to let him win as he was a prince, visiting a nursing home, joining in with the mountain rescue teams? Did we not have article after article declaring that he had his mothers common touch? Was he not praise for getting down on the ground to be a the children’s level while taking to them? Is this what it is going to be like, the princes constantly compared, now that they have both started taking on official duties?
By Ash on June 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Well said Ash! Thank you for pointing that out. The photos of William’s visit with the children in Wales show happy children having fun with William, and a happy William enjoying his time with the children. There was a nice photo here on RA.
I don’t want any misunderstandings about what I’m saying. I feel all of the glowing and positive statements made here about Harry are completely true. I watched a video of Harry holding the cute little baby, and both Harry and the baby were just adorable. It was really heartwarming to see Harry holding the baby and joking with everyone. He definitely has the personable touch.
I also saw videos of William 3 weeks ago, and it was just as heartwarming. It’s true that he didn’t hold a baby, but he did interact happily with everyone, children and adults alike. Everyone was happy and smiling, and they all looked like they were having fun. William even sat on the floor of the bus with the children! He made sure to squat down to eye level when speaking to the children, and he looked glad to be there with them. And this week Harry looked great with the crowd, he looked happy to be there and he looked like he was enjoying himself.
We have two princes who interact well with everyone, and show themselves to be interested and caring men. Why ignore the photos that show they’re both caring men?
They do have different personalities, and personally I think Harry has a more ‘fun’, personality, but it’s obvious from the photos that both William and Harry enjoy meeting with people and children, and interacting with them.
Are the unnecessary comparisons ever going to stop? I see no reason why one prince must be put down in some manner in order to show appreciation for what the other prince has done.
Why can’t we just enjoy both princes and not turn everything they do into some sort of weird competition?
By mapleleaf on June 7th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Mapleleaf, I totally agree with you. Taking sides on the merits of the two Princes is crazy. They are individuals like the rest of us and also have different paths in life. Let’s give them a break.
By John on June 7th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
The mum of the baby Harry held asked him to be patron of a support group aimed at supporting parents of children with 1p36 Deletion Syndrome.
By Isana on June 7th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Do anyone know if William, Catherine, Harry and Chelsy attended the Boodles Boxing Ball yet?
By Rman on June 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
If Zara and Mike are announcing an engagement after the Olympics and marrying next spring, as the unreliable Katie Nicholl now reports, Surely William will not steal her thunder by announcing simultaneously. We may have quite a bit more waiting to do.
By Dan on June 8th, 2008 at 12:07 am
And John, you’re missing the point. No one is taking sides. One Prince is simply showing better in the papers than the other of late. The pendulum swings back and forth, as does the breathless commentary, while they proceed purposefully with their lives—they being blissfully ignorant of us, and we, not so blissfully, of them.
But the Family’s craft in managing their public image— or the lack thereof in the past year — is a subject worthy of reasoned debate. You are the one who so frequently mourns the loss of Mr. Janvrin, whose righteous cause it was.
By Dan on June 8th, 2008 at 12:16 am
I am not trying to make Harry out to be better than William, I am just pointing out the mere fact that William has yet to give any kind of major speech. William is not comfortable speaking with the media or giving a speech unlike Harry.
I noticed last year during the Lauer interview that William throughout looked extremely nervous while Harry dominated that interview looking straight at Lauer while William did not really make straight eye contact. Both Princes are great with the public and especially children but William really needs to calm down as far as the media goes. Especially once he is King and has to make televised speeches.
By Trudie on June 8th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Rman, if you hear of anything about the Boodles Boxing Ball please let me know. I have looked for any info about it and there is none that I could find. I wanted to see if Kate and William were there. Right now, I am nervous for them. There is so much pressure from the media about their future plans it must be hard. It must be hard for Kate to se her name in the papers daily for negative things. It is just sad to day that they have so many obstacles in their path. I am surprised to read about Kate and the job. I would think that it would be to her advantage to ignore everything. William will be going to sea so he needs to get behind her. I was hoping that we would see them together. It would show that he is behind her. Maybe they perferred to stay in and have some time alone or with a few friends. John what is you take on the present situation Is this job thing for real?
By kat on June 8th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Wenn has two pictures of William and Kate and Harry and Chelsy in their cars leaving the boxing ball. They look slightly blurry though. Kate wears what looks like a pretty pink neckholder dress and Chelsy wore blue from what I can see.
If the Mike and Zara engagement story is true, I don’t expect a marriage for Will and Kate before 2010. Surely their engagement would not be announced before Zara and Mike are married. And if their wedding is indeed planned for May 2009 and not autumn or winter this year, I don’t see a summer wedding for Will and Kate in 2009. We might get an engagement in sumnmer 2009 and a wedding in spring 2010 since that seems to be the new timeline for engagements. If that is true, I could definitely see how Kate would have to find something to do with her time until then. I’m sure she’ll be given guidance on the matter.
By Isana on June 8th, 2008 at 8:02 am
If Zara and Mike marry in the spring, it will be a low-key affair — they will surely have learned from the Peter Phillips fiasco. A distinctly non-Royal wedding would also be saleable to Hello! without a furore.
I don’t think such a small event is likely to put off William and Kate. Zara’s could be in April, say, and the big one in mid-summer. Absolutely no clash at all. I’m sure — if a wedding is going to happen in 2009 (and there simply would be no point in putting it off any longer) — Zara and William would coordinate dates to fit.
By John on June 8th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Just read that Katie Nicholl is saying Hello! will not be invited. That’s okay then.
By John on June 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
check out Rex Pictures for 7 pages of pictures of the Princes , their girlfrieds and Jessica Craig at the boxing ball. Kate looked stunning in a pink backless dress.
By marion on June 8th, 2008 at 10:21 am
TONS of pictures from the Boodles Boxing Match from RexFeatures.
http://tinyurl.com/6o6lqh
By frands on June 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Some photos of the boxing ball - they all look like they are having fun!
http://tinyurl.com/57gjab
By Ash on June 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
They were very affectionate towards each other and it made the event more magical. Catherine was very beautiful in that dress.
By Claudius on June 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
kate looked radiant at the ball. William looked very happy himself. I am thrilled to see her feeling so comfortable around so many people.It was great to see William and Kate look so happy together. I would imagine that it would be them against the world. William and Kate were just a lovely couple. I hope that this puts to rest any talk of them not being together. They are great as Britain’s future King and Gueen. I am a lot less nervous than I was before.
By kat on June 8th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Well next is the Garter ceremony and I hope she will be there.
By Claudius on June 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
John, when is Trooping the Color? Is it this coming week? Will Prince Harry and Prince William appear on horseback during this traditional parade to mark the Queen’s Birthday?
By Gigi on June 8th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I don’t know if they will. I have always wanted to know, could the Queen decide to start back riding on a horse during the Trooping of the Colour?
By Claudius on June 8th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
She could, I am sure. The parade is in her honor, and, as the Monarch, she can do as she pleases. My understanding is that she stopped, only quite recently, taking the salute on horseback and chose to ride in the carriage because the parade is of long duration and it takes a tremendous amount of stamina to stay in the saddle, at attention, controlling her mount, during this ceremonial parade. The Queen has amazing stamina, but at age 82 there are limits.
By Gigi on June 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
If I am reading all of the job articles right, the Queen wants Kate to get a job before an engagement can be announced. Could it be that this is her way of letting things slow down while Zara and Mike get engaged. If this is serious, someone suggested that she receive a title at the family business. Could Kate go to someone like Jamie Lowthur- Pinkerton for guidance? I really do want them to work out. I do believe that they are soul mates.
By kat on June 9th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Gigi, I’m sure Trooping the Colour is this coming Saturday. It’s usually covered in full by BBC TV, so may be available in the States. I’m always surprised at what the BBC chooses not to show in America, though. It probably judges the interest of the other networks, which can be low for some events.
The Diana 10th anniversary service last year, for example, was crawling with U.S. networks. I was contacted by a number of the big ones who sent their own crews and presenters over rather than rely on British broadcasters.
As for the Queen riding again — definitely not. It’s far too gruelling and the time when she was shot at emphasized the dangers.
By John on June 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Kat, I think that whole job thing was something and nothing. Probably a stray remark leaked unintentionally and overheard by a footman.
I don’t think the story is worth pursuing, except in so far that, if the engagement is put off for some time, Kate will need a focus for her life, preferably one that’s visible so the public don’t perceive her as a lazy so-and-so.
By John on June 9th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Quick question: has anyone got a few spam comments through lately?
We’ve changed our system slightly and it seems to be having teething problems. My apologies to anyone who has received this stuff.
By John on June 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm