Harry (26 page)

Harry's own problems with women were swept aside when he received a call from his brother to tell him that the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant. According to a fellow soldier, ‘He was berserk with happiness although he couldn't tell us the reason at that stage – it was a “state secret”, he said.' Even the huge bouquet of flowers he sent her had to be organised by a confidant in London. But when, eight weeks into her pregnancy, Kate was admitted to the King Edward
VII hospital in London after being taken ill with hyperemesis gravidarum – severe morning sickness – Harry knew he could break the strict silence that Palace potentates had called for prior to an announcement planned for Christmas Day and he sent her an open message: ‘Get well soon, sis. I want to be an uncle soonest.' She immediately replied saying, ‘I hope you won't mind if it's a girl. Since the times they are a-changing maybe you'll still allow her to join your potential family polo team.'

The birth of the royal baby pushes the People's Prince down from third in line to fourth in the line of succession – and he couldn't be happier. Knowing he will almost certainly never have to shoulder the awesome and tedious burden of kingship gives him the freedom to be the Harry Wales he always wanted to be. Quite apart from William's happiness in becoming a father, Kate's pregnancy had been the answer to his prayers. As Uncle Harry he will surely be the greatest role model the Royal Family has had for many generations. ‘What a change in one man in a relatively short time,' says a courtier who guided me through the journey of Harry Wales, ‘from hooligan to hero, and all within the space of a few years.'

Yes, Harry has changed and in the course of so doing has managed to achieve a large measure of the normality he craved earlier in his life when membership of the Royal Family made that dream seem impossible. He still likes his music (though Jennifer Lopez has had to give way to Beyoncé on the iPhone that goes everywhere with him), and watches
The Royle Family
and
Big Brother
(which he says he would like
to appear on) on TV, although Tiggy managed to persuade him to extend his taste to include costume dramas such as
Downton Abbey. Tatler
said he was the coolest member of the Firm, but adds (in more vulgar terms than I repeat here) that this is like saying he was the most fanciable man in the Cabinet.

So where does he go from here? As my reliable source at St James's Palace admits, ‘Even he doesn't know. Yes, he will leave the military in due course but I don't expect him to become his elder brother's deputy, just filling in when Prince William is unavailable. That's not His Royal Highness's way.'

Harry's dilemma is that he would dearly love to settle in his beloved Africa to work with those who truly need him – and during his February visit to Lesotho I understand he talked to Prince Seeiso about the prices and positions of available properties in the capital – but his grandmother has constantly reminded him that his place is in England, the country he says he does not particularly like. And what of his
relationship
with Chelsy? A close friend says that although Chelsy would have been happy to see him settle in her homeland, ‘She has come to enjoy life in London where she now has a promising career and a wide circle of friends. She doesn't need Harry any more.'

His love was demonstrated when she joined him for a
romantic
break at the Farinet Hotel in Verbier in February. Harry went out of his way to be photographed kissing Cressida on the slopes: ‘I'm told that they talked of marriage but he wouldn't thank me for saying that,' continues his talkative chum. ‘Fergie [the Duchess of York who was there with her daughters and former husband] was urging him to propose but “H” wouldn't go that far. That said, however, he's seen how happy marriage has made his brother and I think he wants some of that. I'm also informed that Cressida's mother has told [Princess] Eugenie she would love to see them settle down together, but the girl won't be rushed any more than he will. Harry is not one to be rushed; believe me, he still has a few tricks up his sleeve. He's special, he's interesting – watch this space.'

Of all the royals, Harry Wales is indeed the most
interesting
one to follow: in his short life he has produced many surprises and doubtless he will continue to do so. While Charles loves him deeply and dotes on his humour and wild enthusiasms, Harry's greatest achievement is to remain
faithful
to the memory of his mother. Diana would be so very proud of him.

P
rince Harry knew almost from the outset that this book was being written; indeed while explaining that – for the obvious reasons – he could not personally be involved, he sent his good wishes for the work in progress. It is to his immense credit that he forbade no one from talking to this author – a vastly different experience to that encountered when
compiling
a previous biography of Vladimir Putin.

A wide range of people helped put together this story of Harry Wales – from senior aides to humble members of staff, from aristocrats to bodyguards and protection officers, from friends of his to the not-so-friendly, from those who shared classrooms with him in boyhood to those he drank with (and still does) today, from girls he has loved and lost to soldiers who have served alongside him on the front line in Afghanistan.

Because some of them thought they might have said too much, they asked not to have their names attached to the fascinating stories they had relayed. For that reason the author
decided to provide them all with a blanket of anonymity with the exception of those who were quite happy to be named – although it is unlikely that Harry would be critical of a single one: he knows that people in all walks of life talk and that does not dismay him. As he said of one of the interviewees: ‘My secrets are safe with him, it’s the people he tells who tend to be indiscreet.’