Those words—uttered on Sept. 29 at his first-ever press conference—"represented William Wales, as he is," says a friend, using one of the prince's more casual names. Indeed, although turning 18 entitles William to be called His Royal Highness, he has insisted on continuing to go by his first name. He has also requested that no one address him as Sir or bow or curtsy to him. "William felt that styling himself HRH would be a barrier between himself and his fellow students and the friends he will be making along the way," says Peter Archer, the royals correspondent for Britain's Press Association. Clearly he is determined to avoid any such obstacles. Since graduating with high marks from Eton in June, the prince has been hanging out with pals during an adventurous preuniversity "gap year" that has included stops in Chile and on Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean, as well as a stint training in Belize with the Welsh Guards. But despite his commitment to being just one of the blokes, friends expect William to exhibit a more statesman-like side when he enrolls at the University of St.Andrews in Scotland next fall. "I have noticed a growing sense of destiny and duty about him," says a family confidant. Another observes that William "has suddenly matured this year. You see a young man rather than a child."
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
