Prince William's regiment scandal

Jul 18, 2006, 13:19 GMT

Britain's Prince William might join the same army regiment as his mother, late Princess Diana's, former lover.

24-year-old William - who is currently doing his officer training in Sandhurst Military Academy - has reportedly decided to join the Life Guards regiment.

It is the same division once served in by Captain James Hewitt - who had a five-year love affair with Diana, after he became her riding instructor in 1987.

After Diana's death, he shocked the nation and the royal family by revealing intimate details about the affair in a book entitled 'Princess In Love'.

According to Royalist.com, William's father, prince Charles, is not likely to be supportive of his son's recent decision.

A source was quoted as saying: 'Prince Charles in particular is unlikely to be impressed. Hewitt betrayed William's mother and tried to sell her love letters for millions of pounds. William has little time for him so it is astonishing that he is contemplating joining the regiment in which Hewitt spent 17 years.'

However, it has been claimed that William's choice of regiment has been completely unrelated to Hewitt's former service.

A source said: 'William knows the regiment's name stands for bravery and prestige.'

William's bravery was demonstrated recently, when a royal writer revealed the prince had offered to perform first aid on a dying football fan.

Royal biographer, Gyles Brandreth, says the 21-year-old prince was the first to offer assistance, when 50-year-old David Luckhurst was struck by a heart attack during a FA Cup Final in Cardiff, Wales, in May (06).

He said: 'As soon as he heard the unfortunate man had suffered a heart attack, he quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and passed the note down to his exhorts to say he's done some first-aid training and would be keen to offer some help.'

Medics were unable to save the man.

Copyright 2006 BANG Media International