Beatrice's mini-mummy plans

Jan 22, 2007, 13:10 GMT

Britain's Princess Beatrice is planning on taking a gap year in the US, to follow in her mother Sarah Ferguson's footsteps.

The 18-year-old princess plans to travel to the US to work with the charity Springboard For Children after she completes her A-Level exams at St George's School in Ascot this summer.

Sarah - who has been spending increasingly more time in the US - is already a patron of Springboard, which helps children with dyslexia, a condition Beatrice suffers from.

A source told Britain's The Mail on Sunday newspaper: "Bea hugely admires her mum's work for charity and has previously talked about wanting to be a mini-mummy.

"Her mother is already a patron of Springboard For Children and has involved her daughter with the charity for a number of years now.

"Beatrice wants to combine seeing her mother developing a public role as she prepares for life as an adult royal, and thinks being a charity ambassador in the States will achieve this."

Beatrice is currently dating 24-year-old Dave Clark and sources say the relationship is going so well, the marketing man is willing to follow the princess across the Atlantic.

A source added: "Bea is smitten with Dave - he's her first proper boyfriend so naturally she wants to spend as much time as possible with him.

"He's prepared to travel to the States to be with Beatrice if necessary."

(C) BANG Media International