William and Harry (36 page)

Flanked by their father and their uncle, Earl Spencer, William and Harry carry out their first and most tragic public duty, walking behind their mother’s gun carriage to Westminster Abbey.

After much discussion William got his wish of taking a gap year, although Prince Charles insisted it be vocational. The prince enrolled on a Raleigh International expedition to Chile in October 2000. In his spare time he read, wrote letters home, practised yoga and made some friends for life.

Harry was fearless on the sports pitch at Eton where he excelled at the EtonWall Game. Covered in mud and in his team colours he raises his arms in victory during a game in November 2002, watched by his father.

William enrolled at St Andrews in September 2001. During his first term he fell for Carley Massy-Birch. While Kate Middleton had been voted the prettiest undergraduate, Carley’s derrière was considered the best at St Andrews, something which may well have irked her rival for William’s affections.

Although he had a wobble during his first term William soon settled into St Andrews University. As well as joining the amateur dramatics society he also enjoyed swimming, cycling and surfing during his four years there.

Kate Middleton gazes at William’s best friend Fergus Boyd during the ‘Don’t Walk’ fashion show at St Andrews in March 2002. William remarked that Kate was ‘hot’ and later that night at a party in Hope Street in the centre of town he made his move.

After four years William finally graduated from St Andrews on Thursday 23 June 2005 with a 2:1 in Geography. Locals lined the streets to bid farewell to the student prince who in turn thanked the people of the Scottish town for their kindness.

Harry visits children at an orphanage in Lesotho during his gap year in April 2006. He was so moved that he launched a charity called Sentebale, which means ‘forget me not’, in memory of his mother.

During his gap year Harry went to Cape Town in search of Chelsy Davy, daughter of a Zimbabwean landowner, whom he first met when he was at Eton. A love affair blossomed that continues to this day.

Against all the odds, Prince Charles eventually married his long-term mistress Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005 at Windsor Guild hall. The Queen, who had refused to acknowledge Camilla in the past, gave her blessing for them to wed, while William and Harry said they were delighted for their father.

Harry – now ‘Cornet Wales’ – passes out at the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst on 12 April 2006. William had to salute his brother.

Bleary-eyed Harry trips up outside Boujis nightclub in South Kensington after one too many Crackbaby cocktails in March 2007. He lunged at the paparazzi who were trying to get a picture of him leaving with his friend Natalie Pinkham.