2008/10/27
THE dreams of three East London teens came true this week when they met British royals, Prince William and Prince Harry, in Morgan Bay.
Clarendon Girls’ High School pupils Sheara Murphy, 16, Chandré Murphy, 14, and Aliyah Rachel Rainer, 15, met the princes during what they dubbed an “adventure” trip to Morgan Bay.
The royals were staying in the seaside village during their charity motorcycle ride across the province, and departed yesterday morning.
Moms Romy Murphy and Sue Rainer allowed their daughters the opportunity to meet their dream princes in one impulsive moment. Romy Murphy said that after her daughters told her the princes were just two hours away, she was “excited” to make her own princesses’ dreams come true.
So determined were the girls to meet the dashing duo, they even missed their school prize-giving on Wednesday.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Sheara said. Her sister Chandré added: “We really didn’t think we’d meet them. We just thought we’d see them (from a distance).”
Destiny seemed to be on their side, however, and on arrival they spotted Harry at the Morgan Bay Hotel. Chandré said she jokingly told Aliyah she had spotted one of the princes.
“I looked again and there he was, walking down the stairs,” Aliyah said.
Having seen that Harry had gone into the hotel, the girls made their way to the hotel games room and moments later, Sheara was playing darts with Harry and his friends.
“Here’s the prince ... right next to me, and I must play darts,” Sheara said.
But William had yet to be spotted. The girls said that on two separate occasions, two different men, part of the princes’ entourage, approached them, asking if they had met William.
So off the girls went with members of the royal staff, and were formally introduced to William.
“He was very polite; he had the qualities of a king,” one of the girls said. “He’s gracious and kind and makes everyone feel so at ease – a perfect gentleman,” mom Romy added.
The princes, with over 100 Enduro Africa 2008 riders, are dirt-biking through the province to raise money for four charities.
They have already raised close to R5million. The girls said they appreciated the princes’ “noble efforts” in raising the money. - By ASA SOKOPO
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