by Christopher Morgan
PRINCE WILLIAM has joined the Combined Cadet Force
(CCF) at Eton, ending speculation that he would choose the
non-military alternative of voluntary service with the disabled
and the elderly. Last weekend the sixth-former went on his
first training exercise.
The prince's decision echoes that of most of his peers and
was encouraged by Dr Andrew Gailey, his housemaster.
Pupils at the school are allowed to opt out of the CCF in
favour of weekly community work in the neighbouring towns
of Slough and Windsor.
Observers have interpreted the decision as an early indication
that William will follow his father and grandfather into a
service career before he undertakes regular royal duties.
The Prince of Wales, who spent 10 years in the Royal Navy
and reached the rank of commander, did not have to make
the same decision at Gordonstoun, the Scottish public school.
It had no cadet force and Charles did local voluntary work
with the coastguards and the surf rescue unit. Both his
brothers, the Duke of York and Prince Edward, also
attended the school, the choice of the Duke of Edinburgh,
himself an old boy.
It is thought Charles is pleased that his son chose the military
option, but did not actively encourage the decision. The
prince learnt to handle a gun at an early age and is known to
enjoy pheasant and grouse shooting. Photographs of him and
his father out hunting decorate the walls of his room at Eton.
Michael Hare Duke, former bishop of St Andrews,
supported his decision: "He's got to make his own life and
make his own choices. He must get out from under the
shadow of his mother. At that age it's quite fun to play
soldiers. It's being one of the boys - and the more normal life
can be for that poor lad, the better."
Derek Bodell, director of the National Aids Trust, one of the
favoured charities of Diana, Princess of Wales, said: "He's
too young to be pigeon-holed. If he'd chosen charitable
work, everyone would have scrutinised the charities
involved."
Tony Lloyd, director of the Leprosy Mission and a close
friend of Diana, said: "In due course he will develop into the
same kind of person his mother was, with the same kind of
gifts. I'm sure that in the future he will be dealing with those in
need, as his mother did."
The prince's decision was criticised by Dr Tony Kempster,
an executive member of the Campaign Against Arms Trade.
"This was an opportunity to have made a statement on war,"
he said. "His mother was involved in trying to do something
about the tragedy that war has caused, the uncontrolled use
of landmines, whereas he is going to be trained in methods of
killing."
Joe Korner, chairman of the National Peace Council, of
which Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, is vice-president,
said: "It's a shame. He would have learnt much more doing
social and community work."
Social service at Eton includes visiting local schools, helping
at old people's homes, calling bingo numbers at afternoon
clubs and visiting the mentally handicapped.
It can mean anything from digging gardens to supervising
stamp clubs or helping pupils from nearby state schools with
their reading skills.
William's decision to join the CCF means he will spend one
afternoon a week in uniform. The first few weeks are spent
learning drill and basic weapon handling. He will be required
to polish his boots so that the drill sergeant-major, usually a
professional, can see his reflection in the toe caps.
There are also overnight exercises, assault course training,
and practical aptitude tests to select cadets with particular
military promise who may be encouraged to take up a career
in the forces.
After his basic induction, the prince will be offered the
opportunity of specialising in different service disciplines,
including the navy and army.
Each year the CCF mounts a military tattoo, complete with
mock battles. The salute at the ceremonial march-past is
usually taken by a senior military figure. Occasionally, one of
William's family travels the few hundred yards from Windsor
Castle for the honour.
In the past, many Eton boys have become officers in the
services. The Guards and some cavalry regiments are
favourites. David Cooper, the commanding officer of the
Eton College CCF, is also a school chaplain. During the
Falklands war he was the padre of the 2nd Battalion, the
Parachute Regiment.
Charles is understood to be pleased with his son's progress at
Eton. William is believed to have passed his GCSEs with at
least five A grades. He is known to be a keen swimmer and
belongs to a water polo team. "Eton has done wonders for
William," a friend of Charles said yesterday.
PRINCE William and Prince Harry went to church yesterday to remember their mother
in privacy.
The Palace had promised a low-key
approach to the first anniversary of the
death of Diana, Princess of Wales and
so it turned out. There was no
walkabout, no perusal of floral tributes
and no prolonged exposure to the eyes
of the world. A small crowd,
outnumbered by the media, gathered
outside Crathie church and caught a
fleeting glimpse of the royal party as it
made the short journey from Balmoral.
Stepping from their "people carrier", the
Princes were shielded from view by members of the Royal Family as they entered the
church for the 15-minute service. Prince William, 16, and Prince Harry, 14, were
accompanied by The Prince of Wales, the Queen, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, the
Duke of York, the Princess Royal and other members of the family. The royal party
returned directly to Balmoral without meeting members of the public.
Rosemary Merkley, from Canada, said: "We were hoping they might get out of their
cars. But we understand it was entirely up to them how they felt."
A Palace spokesman said: "This is a day for the Princes and they must be allowed to
remember their mother in their way rather than in the way other people might want
them to."
Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, also attended the service. They later concluded the
traditional prime ministerial stay at Balmoral and returned to London.
Earl Spencer, the Princess's brother, and his sisters gathered with estate workers for a
private service near the Princess's island grave at Althorp, Northants.
The Princess's mother, Frances Shand Kydd was nowhere to be seen. She paid to
have Oban cathedral floodlit in memory of her daughter and placed a note in the
cathedral's newsletter saying: "Monday, Aug 31 - in proud and loving memory of my
beloved daughter, Diana." But she did not attend the cathedral, where she has
worshipped for several years, for daily mass, which was offered yesterday for the
repose of the Princess's soul. A friend said: "She has gone to the hills."
Mohammed Fayed, the owner of Harrods, held a private ceremony at the Surrey
mausoleum of his son, Dodi. At Harrods he inspected a bronze memorial which will
link his son and the Princess in perpetuity and, in the absence of a royal walkabout,
undertook his own, saying that his shoppers wanted to see him.
PRINCE William's exam success has delighted his family and would have
made Princess Diana especially proud.
A senior royal source told The Mirror yesterday: "At the end of such a
difficult, sad year this has brought something to cheer about. Everyone at
Eton has been amazed by the way he has put his mother's death to one
side and got on with his studies.
"It's really been remarkable. He is a very independent, strong-willed
young man and he just did it. He has loved being at Eton, where he is
protected from all the aggravation that goes with being a prince."
William will now take three A levels before having a year off to travel. He is
then planning to study a four-year degree course at Cambridge
University.
Credit for William's stunning 12 GCSE passes is being given to Andrew
Gailey, his Eton housemaster who has steered him through his exams.
The royal source said: "The history books will record that Mr Gailey has
been an absolute star. He has taken William under his wing and guided
him skillfully, both educationally and emotionally. They get on extremely
well and this has been a very important relationship for William as he has
tried to rebuild his life."
Dr Gailey, 43, has had a big influence on William over the past three years,
helping him through the trauma of his parents' divorce and encouraging
him to share his grief when Diana died.
The Ulster-born teacher treats William no differently from the other
children in his charge at Manor House but has been quick to ensure that
he is not bullied. Dr Gailey impressed Charles and Diana when they were
looking for a school for William.
They liked him because he spoke to them simply as the parents of one of
his pupils rather than fawning round them. Diana especially warmed to him
because of his affable and personable approach.
His door is always open and she was comforted by the knowledge that Dr
Gailey would look after William's emotional needs as well as his education.
She knew he was perfectly equipped to deal with a boy from a broken
home.
William has come to depend more and more on Dr Gailey and has often
confided in him. He is a regular visitor at his study, where they have
chatted for hours over his problems.
Dr Gailey often has an informal word while passing in the corridor and
encourages William with a smile and a pat on the back.
While determined to do the young prince no special favours, he has often
had to be on the look-out for bullying or teasing. Dr Gailey had to intercept
letters from a prankster containing pictures of Charles swimming naked on
holiday in France.
And he had to have a discreet word with William's matron Elizabeth
Heathcote when word went round that the prince's underpants were to
be stolen as royal trophies.
Charles has been so impressed with Dr Gailey's role in William's life that he
has often congratulated him. Now hard-working William is expected to
follow his father to Cambridge.
The royal source said: "He will do his A levels and then take a year off. He
wants to travel around a bit and broaden his horizons.
"Then he will go to university. No final decision has been made on where
yet but it is almost certainly going to be Cambridge.
"His dad enjoyed it there, and Eton and more importantly Andrew Gailey
have very strong links with the university, which is likely to be a major
deciding factor.
"Obviously it will depend on his A level results but he has done so well in
his GCSEs that it seems a formality."
William's plans to be a helicopter pilot in the Army have taken many royal
experts by surprise. But the source added: "William is his own man and if
he wants to go into the Army then that is what he will do. He knows a lot of
people in the services and has spent a lot of time this summer down at
Army camps hanging out with the troops and having a lot of action-packed
fun and games.
"But it is helicopter flying that has really grabbed his attention. He has had
quite a few lessons now and he loves it. He has told a lot of people that he
is seriously interested in becoming an Army pilot."
But while Diana would naturally have been proud of William's brilliance,
she would have been less approving of his choice of career.
She was never thought to be very keen on her sons following the
traditional royal path into military service because of her humanitarian
stance.
The bond between mother and sons is shown in our previously
unpublished picture of Diana and the princes taken by Lord Snowdon.
Diana - wearing a formal gown and tiara for the shoot - suggested that
Snowdon finish off with this touching photo of her with one hand on the
shoulder and head of the barefoot, tieless boys.
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