Prince Harry’s Transition into Serious, Responsible Adult Continues
Josh Duboff
Prince Harry has come a long way from his days of Vegas-related and assorted other scandals. Now 29 years old, out of the military life, and thought to be in a quite serious relationship, Harry seems to be entering the "adult phase" of his life. And in what the Daily Beast deems "evidence" that he is en route to transforming into a "serious man," Harry will be representing the Queen at a service in London next week-held on Monday at Clarence House-to honor Nelson Mandela. Desmond Tutu will be speaking at the service, which will be broadcast live on the BBC. As we know, the Queen is a pretty by-the-books, traditional woman, so a decision to let someone represent her at an event of this kind would seem to indicate a strong faith in her grandson.
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William and Kate were seen visiting South Africa House in Trafalgar Square shortly after Mandela's death to pay their respects. (They had been informed of his passing when they were in a screening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.) Prince Charles released a statement after the former South African president's death, in which he wrote, "The world has lost an inspired leader and a great man. My family and I are profoundly saddened and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Meanwhile, engagement rumors continue to swirl around Harry and Cressida Bonas, with E! Online suggesting in a report last night that Harry has in fact already proposed to former dancer, scrunchie aficionado Bonas, and that they now have to "go through certain royal protocols" (asking the Queen's permission, for example) before making it official. These two have been rumored to be engaged seemingly since the first time any of us learned who Cressida even was, though. (And do we really think Harry would dare propose marriage before asking the Queen? We can't imagine the Queen would take too kindly to that.) But, if this is in fact true, it would lend further credence to this overall Harry's Growing Up theory: new desk job, serious relationship, representing the Queen at serious events. We fear soon he'll start wearing loose-fit washed denim jeans, and asking Cressida if they can check out the new Liam Neeson flick.
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