Prince William makes waves

2004-04-17 20:54

Cardiff - University-level water polo tournaments are generally fairly low-key affairs - but not when the eventual heir to the British throne is making his international debut.

To loud - and largely female - screams, Prince William, 21, took to the water for the Scottish national universities side in the annual Celtic Nations sports event in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The 1.90m royal pin-up, resplendent in black and grey swimming trunks and swimming cap, tried his best on being called to the pool as a second-quarter substitute but was unable to stop his side losing 14-7 to the Irish side.

William, captain of the water polo side at St Andrew's University in Scotland, was not among the scorers but did win a particularly big cheer for helping prevent an Ireland goal.

The tournament marked a rare occasion for members of the public - and the British press - to witness the prince in anything other than a strictly controlled formal setting.

Female admirers

The son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, William is a hugely popular figure in Britain, where his apparently shy manner coupled with youthful good looks has won him a sizeable fanbase of female admirers.

On arriving at the Welsh Institute of Sport for the tournament, William had first been forced to make his way through a crowd of young leotard-clad female gymnasts, who had just completed their event.

Royal officials have tried hard to shield William from public attention during his boyhood and his time at university, and their attempts have been largely respected by Britain's usually voracious tabloid press.

Spectators pronounced themselves delighted at their glimpse of the second in line to the throne, although one expressed mild concern at William's look of faded jeans and scruffy takkies.

"I think he could do with a new pair of shoes or jeans or something," said 75-year-old Jo Morgan.

- AFP