The awareness of William

AT THE same age, his father was already weighed down, not least by his title: HRH Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles and Baron of Renfrew, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland and Knight Companion of The Most Noble Order of the Garter.

For him, on the other hand, Prince William is as grand as it gets. William Wales is preferred, or to his friends simply Will. In an interview to mark his approaching 21st birthday, he credits the media with some of the responsibility for allowing him to lead a relatively normal life. But Prince William - and this is one of the qualities that appear to define the man - is being modest. After all that he and his immediate family had been through, it was the only course of action that morally they could take. Rather, it is he who can take the credit for negotiating with aplomb the first two of his four years at St Andrews University. The interview reveals an heir to the crown aware of the distinct position he holds but alive also to the pressures, choices and possibilities that "ordinary" young people growing up today potentially confront. As the monarchy struggles to modernise, Prince William’s uncomplicated approach bodes well - not least for him.