In This Feature
The Princes of England
by
findingDulcinea Staff
One is heir to the throne, and both are heirs to their mother's legacy of philanthropy. Prince Harry and Prince William, the sons of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, are celebrities as much as they are royalty.
Redefining Royalty
Some may view them as mere magazine fodder, appearing in the glossies on both sides of the pond with no greater status than movie stars. But Princes William and Harry have more interesting lives than the media reports. Now young adults, the sons of Prince Charles and Princess Diana are formidable citizens who have active roles in the military, in charitable organizations, and in the public lives of British citizens. The royal family is very important to many Britons, even if its role is primarily symbolic, and the princes have risen to the occasion by staying immune to the scrutiny of the paparazzi while promoting their individual interests and global ambitions.
Second in line to the throne, the eldest son, William, attended the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland and has since volunteered in third-world countries and participated in formal military ceremonies.
Prince Harry is traditionally seen as more candid than his elder brother, but he hasn’t exactly earned the “bad boy” image the British press has tried to bestow upon him. His most infamous caper was wearing a Nazi costume to a Halloween party.
Royally Speaking
At the Prince of Wales’s site is a host of information about both princes and their family members. Most interesting is William and Harry’s “Case Studies” sections, which explore the aims and projects of the organizations and charities that the princes work with, such as the Tusk Trust, which rebuilds the impoverished regions of northern Kenya. For his part, Harry co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Sentebale means “forget me not,” and commemorates the charitable work of both princes’ mothers.
Harry also has a passionate role in the military and was due to be sent to Iraq before royal and military officials called off the tour, citing the risk of sending such a high-profile figure into combat.
Harry also has a passionate role in the military and was due to be sent to Iraq before royal and military officials called off the tour, citing the risk of sending such a high-profile figure into combat.
Source: Prince of Wales official Web site
Find profiles for both Harry and William on the BBC News site. Each one outlines the boys’ childhood, ambitions, military roles and personal lives.
Profile: Prince Harry
Profile: Prince William
Profile: Prince Harry
Profile: Prince William
After School
Prince William began working for the newly formed charities division of the bank HSBC after finishing university in 2005. This popular British financial news site discusses what made this move a milestone for the royal family.
Source: This is Money
Harry, for his part, graduated from the British military academy Sandhurst as an officer in 2006. The BBC discusses his future as a troop commander in charge of 11 other men and four tanks. Harry was set to lead this troop on the front lines in Iraq earlier this year.
As a follow-up, the Washington Post in May 2007 reported on the reversal of Harry’s Iraq assignment. Harry expressed “disappointment” that he would not be serving after all.
Source: Washington Post
Memory and Philanthropy
This past summer, honoring what would have been Diana’s 46th birthday, the princes hosted the Concert for Diana in London, which featured performances from dozens of popular musicians. The princes promoted three charities patronized by Diana, William, and Harry. Among the charities’ targets are refugees, homeless people, and HIV/AIDS victims.
Source: Concert for Diana
The concert drew some ire from the media, however, because its homepage didn’t explicitly reveal how much of the proceeds would be going to charity. Radar magazine, based in the U.S., discusses this angle.
Source: Radar
States of Mind
In the run-up to the 10-year anniversary of Diana’s death the princes were interviewed by the Today Show’s Matt Lauer. The men discussed their thoughts on America, the philosophy behind the Concert for Diana, and life without their mother. You can watch three videos of this interview on the Today Show’s page on MSNBC.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
