William Plays Royal Host in Scotland

By Stephen M. Silverman

07/03/2002 at 12:00 PM EDT

Britain's Prince William undertook another landmark in his training as a future fully-fledged working royal this week when he helped his father, Prince Charles, 53, host an outdoor tea party at Edinburgh, Scotland's Palace of Holyrood House, reports PEOPLE. Chatting confidently to many of the 4,000 guests, Wills, 20, relaxed and smiling in a formal tailcoat (he only clutched his black top hat), received career advice from old soldiers and seamen and revealed how "nerve-shattering" this summer of sport has been for him. The party was thrown for charity workers, servicemen and servicewomen and public sector employees. Also there, significantly, was Prince Charles's companion, Camilla Parker Bowles (who turns 55 this month), marking a further step in her formal acceptance at royal occasions. But she made sure she was never within yards of the princes during the party and arrived sheepishly, bolting along the side of the palace to avoid being seen close to Charles and William. Aides said that William wanted to thank the people of Scotland following his first year of college at the country's St. Andrews University and stressed that he was there by his own choice, not royal obligation. The prince, who remained at the party for about 90 minutes, joked on the palace lawns with a kilt-wearing guest, Queen's Scout Neil Mennie, 19, saying, he too "would have worn my kilt, but the weather put me off."