Prince William Laid Bare in Rye

The talk on Wednesday at Rye Arts Festival by Royal biographer Penny Junor on her new book on Prince William gave some insight into the 30-year-old helicopter pilot, his poorly-clad brother and their parents. We were assured that both princes really are well-rounded, normal lads, and that William, according to Royal insiders, really is the wild one - he just doesn't get caught (with his pants down, smoking weed, dressing in Nazi uniform or any other of Harry's other faux pas). And given their tragic childhood they've done remarkably well.

What we didn't find out, after audience questions, was what William calls the duchess of Cambridge in private - Kate or Catherine? An old sea dog asked why both princes carry the surname Wales. Penny wasn't sure. Given it isn't their father's surname, it is a bit odd. And neither has a title that might lead them to shorten their moniker to their demesne. Oh well.

Harry has clearly found his forte as a gunner in an Apache attack helicopter - with an impressive arsenal of weapons at his fingertips. Penny told a story of how years ago suspicion fell on the boys of shooting and killing their father's favourite moorhen at Highgrove. No surprises that it was the carrot-topped younger sibling who  fessed up to doing the dastardly deed! His early promise with guns has been put to good use. We were told that according to his Army Air Corps instructors at Middle Wallop, Harry had amazing reflexes - no doubt they came in handy in Las Vegas when he was being shot and he was able to cover the crown jewels in the blink of a shutter!

We were left feeling affection for the young royals and great relief that Michael Gove wasn't in charge of their education - they might have ended up as somewhat effete pseudo-intellectuals reciting Alexander Pope, conversing in ancient greek and taking the King James Bible to bed! I think a night out with the Prince Harry we've got sounds like an awful lot more fun and if Penny is right, going out on the razz with William Wales would be a real blast!