British Royals

Day 1, June 15, Botswana

Snakes, cheetahs, and a ‘Chelsy Davy TV’…

Prince Harry, Prince William & an 8-ft python

Prince Harry jokingly threatened his brother Prince William with an 8ft long python as they visited a nature reserve in Botswana on their first joint Royal tour.

The Princes were invited to hold the non-venomous snake on their shoulders by game wardens at the Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation near Gaborone, and Prince Harry couldn’t resist taunting his older brother when he was given the head to hold. Sticking out his tongue to mimic the constrictor, Prince Harry, who is normally afraid of snakes, pointed it at his brother, who jerked his head back and said: “Don’t put it in my face!”

As the Princes picked up the African rock python, it urinated next to Prince Williams feet. “It’s peeing” he laughed. It’s obviously very relaxed.”

The princes also got to hold a pair of cheetahs.

Article: The Telegraph

During a visit to the Mophane Primary School in Gaborone – capital of Botswana – on Tuesday, Prince Harry was shown a ‘television’ created from an ice-cream tub embellished with his own name and that of his father, Prince Charles, on either side.

But the biggest tribute went to the prince’s Zimbabwe-born girlfriend, who was honoured on the top of the box with the words ‘Chelsy Davy TV’.

Article: Hello! Magazine

And what’s the media atmosphere like during the princes’ first joint official tour?  Robert Jobson reports:

“This royal “brand of brothers”shows off the modern, contemporary nature of monarchy. They, after all, are the immediate future for the family.

To me it significantly also shows what is NOT happening. At least right now. Despite the media clamour for a royal wedding for William and his long term girlfriend, neither brother seems in any rush to walk down the aisle.

All the talk among the foreign media, particularly the US networks, is still: “When are William and Kate Middleton going to get hitched?” But if any expect the prince to stroll out and make an engagement they have no chance.  They are, after all, still relatively young.

The interest, at least in media numbers, is as big as when I covered the Charles and Diana tours as a correspondent at their height in the early 1990s.  And yes, the princely double-act has enough wow factor to pull in the media. Being Diana’s boys on the road has legs, for now.  But it will have a shelf life. Royal tours need glamour, as well as worthy causes, and joking princes.

And for real glamour going forward the princes will need their ladies – Kate and Chelsy Davy should they make the grade as royal brides – at their sides.  Only then will the all singing all dancing royal roadshows of old return.

Article: News of the World

Tags: africa, chelsy, harry, william