Prince William: Marlboro Man

12/31/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Prince William might put off college for a year to work as a ranch hand in Australia and Argentina, according to Britain's Sunday Telegraph. Buckingham Palace will not confirm the report, but the newspaper said the 17-year-old future king of England (who is set to graduate from the prestigious Eton next June) will work on cattle and sheep ranches for a year. He will be accompanied by family friend Edward van Cutsem, 26, the paper said. It quoted an unidentified family friend as saying Prince Charles had suggested his son take a year off from school to work.