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CNN Live Saturday

Prince William Turns 21

Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Britain's future king has reached a milestone. Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, turned 21 today. But much of the celebration is being kept away from the prying eyes of the media and the public. We check in now with CNN's Walter Rodgers, who's outside Windsor Castle.
WALTER RODGER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. It's difficult to imagine a more historic place, at least in Britain, for Prince William to celebrate his 21st birthday. Behind me, Henry VIII Gate, Windsor Castle. Henry's buried inside there, so are other English and British kings and queens. This celebration, of course, this festivity this evening is about a man who would be king, a young man coming of age.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS (voice-over) In days of yore, an English prince, a king in waiting, would be charging off to battle on a horse. Just before his 21st birthday, Prince William is chasing a polo ball. Such is what has become of the British monarchy over time.

Buckingham Palace released these pictures of Prince William, his brother Prince Harry, and their father, Prince Charles in what some see as a skilled marketing campaign to sell the monarchy to the next generation of Britons.

After 15 years of scandals and embarrassment, many see Prince William as the House of Windsor's only hope.

INGRID STEWARD, ROYAL WATCHER: It's the young people he needs to appeal to, because by the time he gets to the throne, it's going to be in 40 years' time. So it's the young people of today that need to be his fans.

RODGERS: William does not lack for fans. Those who wept when his mother Princess Diana died, apparently transferred their affection to her eldest son. He is part teen idol, part king in the making, but unlike his father, Prince Charles, who is likely to precede him to the throne, this prince disdains being called your royal highness, signing his name, William Wales.

HAROLD BROOKS-BAKER, BURKES PEERAGE: I would think that if you asked anyone if Prince William is normal, every single person would say absolutely normal, but slightly more serious than most young men his age. RODGERS: Prince William is most at ease with those closest to him those he can trust not to run to Britain's gossipy media. Despite Prince Charles's ugly divorce with Princess Diana, the affection between father and son is now palpable, and enviable.

The younger king in the making calls Britain's next king, pa. William, once his mother Princess Diana's confidant and protector, now seems the apple of his father's eye.

PRINCE WILLIAM: I always try to avoid being hit by somebody's sticks. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

RODGERS: There's a huge birthday bash for William at Windsor Castle. More than 300 guests invited. All FFK, friends of the future king.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS: Out of Africa is the theme of Prince William's birthday party. It's a costume ball, so anyone coming in a coat and tie like this, is certain not to get through the gates -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Walt, you talk about this list of 300 very special guest, among them I imagine there's one young lady I understand who he's quite smitten for, and perhaps the Spencers may be on that list as well?

RODGERS: Well, first, the Spencers are on the list. This is sort of a peace making party as well between the Spencers, which of course is the Prince William's mother's branch of the family, and the Windsors, his father's branch.

Having said that, I'd be very careful about any speculation about young ladies are being involved with Prince William at this point. As a matter of fact, the royal watchers make it very, very clear, anytime you hear a rumor that Prince William is involved with this young lady or that young lady, it's the product of the gossip-mongering English tabloid press.

It's not very likely to be true at this point. He's just not going that route, and certainly he would never do it publicly -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Walter. I'm sure the ladies are lining up, raising their hands, oh me, oh me. All right, thanks a lot, Walter.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 21, 2003 - 12:46   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Britain's future king has reached a milestone. Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, turned 21 today. But much of the celebration is being kept away from the prying eyes of the media and the public. We check in now with CNN's Walter Rodgers, who's outside Windsor Castle.
WALTER RODGER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. It's difficult to imagine a more historic place, at least in Britain, for Prince William to celebrate his 21st birthday. Behind me, Henry VIII Gate, Windsor Castle. Henry's buried inside there, so are other English and British kings and queens. This celebration, of course, this festivity this evening is about a man who would be king, a young man coming of age.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS (voice-over) In days of yore, an English prince, a king in waiting, would be charging off to battle on a horse. Just before his 21st birthday, Prince William is chasing a polo ball. Such is what has become of the British monarchy over time.

Buckingham Palace released these pictures of Prince William, his brother Prince Harry, and their father, Prince Charles in what some see as a skilled marketing campaign to sell the monarchy to the next generation of Britons.

After 15 years of scandals and embarrassment, many see Prince William as the House of Windsor's only hope.

INGRID STEWARD, ROYAL WATCHER: It's the young people he needs to appeal to, because by the time he gets to the throne, it's going to be in 40 years' time. So it's the young people of today that need to be his fans.

RODGERS: William does not lack for fans. Those who wept when his mother Princess Diana died, apparently transferred their affection to her eldest son. He is part teen idol, part king in the making, but unlike his father, Prince Charles, who is likely to precede him to the throne, this prince disdains being called your royal highness, signing his name, William Wales.

HAROLD BROOKS-BAKER, BURKES PEERAGE: I would think that if you asked anyone if Prince William is normal, every single person would say absolutely normal, but slightly more serious than most young men his age. RODGERS: Prince William is most at ease with those closest to him those he can trust not to run to Britain's gossipy media. Despite Prince Charles's ugly divorce with Princess Diana, the affection between father and son is now palpable, and enviable.

The younger king in the making calls Britain's next king, pa. William, once his mother Princess Diana's confidant and protector, now seems the apple of his father's eye.

PRINCE WILLIAM: I always try to avoid being hit by somebody's sticks. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

RODGERS: There's a huge birthday bash for William at Windsor Castle. More than 300 guests invited. All FFK, friends of the future king.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RODGERS: Out of Africa is the theme of Prince William's birthday party. It's a costume ball, so anyone coming in a coat and tie like this, is certain not to get through the gates -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Walt, you talk about this list of 300 very special guest, among them I imagine there's one young lady I understand who he's quite smitten for, and perhaps the Spencers may be on that list as well?

RODGERS: Well, first, the Spencers are on the list. This is sort of a peace making party as well between the Spencers, which of course is the Prince William's mother's branch of the family, and the Windsors, his father's branch.

Having said that, I'd be very careful about any speculation about young ladies are being involved with Prince William at this point. As a matter of fact, the royal watchers make it very, very clear, anytime you hear a rumor that Prince William is involved with this young lady or that young lady, it's the product of the gossip-mongering English tabloid press.

It's not very likely to be true at this point. He's just not going that route, and certainly he would never do it publicly -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Walter. I'm sure the ladies are lining up, raising their hands, oh me, oh me. All right, thanks a lot, Walter.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com