paparazzi

Wow, the marriage of Prince William and Lady Catherine solicited a great deal of interest on the site yesterday. The visitor count hit a new all time record, and I thought the site had been compromised until I figured out that over half of the hits were on the blog post from 2008 about the Royal brothers riding the Wild Coast. (http://www.wildcoast.co.za/node/514)

I thought that (what little I saw of it) the pomp and pageantry of the wedding of the century was quite magical. The stuff of fantasy; and we need that in this world.

I must be honest and admit that Prince William has extraordinary charisma. A palpable aura of power and privilege, but more than that even.

When they visited Hole in the Wall on their ride, I tried to get a photo. So I sidled up to the foot of their table and nervously asked if I could take a photograph. One of the bodyguards laughed and chirped "Well I rode like a champion today, you're quite welcome to take my photo!"

Without thinking about the propriety or anything, I replied, "No not you, mate, I meant William and Harry."

Prince William responded and said that it was so very kind of me to ask, and apologized and said that they'd had a long ride that day and would prefer if I wouldn't. "No problem," I said, "I really don't wish to impose." He thanked me again for my courtesy, and I left with the tangible impression of having encountered true nobility.

It was quite remarkable, and has left me with an indelible and lasting respect for the man who was born to be King someday.

(/True story. :)

Prince William and Harry: before the start of the Enduro Africa 08 charity motorcycle ride in Port Edward

We were treated to a glimpse of the royal brothers as they overnighted at the Hole in the Wall hotel yesterday. They are currently on a charity motorcycle ride from Port Edward to Port Elizabeth (good colonial names those, hehe), along with about 120 other riders.

I was warned to ask permission before taking any photos; so I approached their table hesitantly but was politely and diplomatically declined. Ah well. Not that I'm much of a royalist anyway, but I certainly wouldn't want to impose.
Red Cherry motorcycles: at Hole in the Wall

Later we went to Coffee Bay and bumped into a good friend at the Ocean View Hotel, who was busy showing a table of British paparazzi some photos of William as he was refueling at the petrol station. She also got the back of Harry, as he had seen her camera, and he gave her a cheeky grin as he quickly turned his back and slipped his helmet on. Several people have offered her real money for the photos.

The weather today is fine and clear, but there's a roaring North Westerly blowing. Their destination is unknown, but is believed to be Mazeppa Bay according to the sagoodnews website: http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/general/princes_william_and_harry_to_ride_th...

Since the site also maintained that they would be overnighting at Coffee Bay and not Hole in the Wall, it's anyone's guess where they will actually end up.

The almost entirely off-road motorcycle ride will raise money for UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and Sentebale, founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, for projects in South Africa and Lesotho.