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Prince runs into 'old' pal at Up Park Camp
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, March 08, 2012
IT is a widely-held perception that Jamaicans are to be found every where. So, it is no surprise that an officer of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) trained alongside His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (always known as Prince Harry) at the distinguished Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom.
As a member of the platoon to which Prince Harry was assigned, Lieutenant Kayon Mills had the opportunity to eat, sleep, train, work and party alongside the 27-year-old prince who he said acted like "any of us".
Mills told the Observer yesterday that he and Prince Harry arrived at Sandhurst in 2005 to begin the military training as an officer and was immediately assigned to the same 20-member platoon where they had to interact daily.
So familiar had the two become that Mills was immediately greeted by The Prince when they met at a private breakfast at Up Park Camp yesterday morning.
"When we met, he immediately recognised me and we talked about the good old days," Mills said.
The Observer was told that at the private breakfast the Prince chatted with Mills for some time.
The prince is said to have hugged him and asked, "still working out?"
Prince Harry was also said to have felt Mill's biceps as he told the other soldiers, "this guy used to be enormous, he used to work out so much."
While a number of the platoon members hailed from outside the United Kingdom, Mills said he was the only Jamaican in the unit, although there were three other Jamaicans in the company.
He said Prince Harry seemed somewhat familiar with the Jamaican culture from then as there was constant sharing of cultures among the group.
"He was no longer royalty to us he was just one of the boys and he was not given any preferential treatment," Mills said.
He recalled that the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II did not appear to be sheltered but participated in all the activities the other members of his platoon did.
"When it's time to get grimy and dirty, he did, and when it was time to party he did also," he said.
At the military academy Mills said they participated in various activities such as drilling, marching, shooting, living in the field and just about everything that was necessary to transform a civilian to a military officer.
According to Mills, Prince Harry excelled at everything he did and was particularly good at running and shooting.
"He never sought any special treatment and we did not treat him any differently," he said, adding that he was also an excellent team player.
Prince Harry, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana, is in Jamaica as part of international celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of the queen's coronation.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1oVyrefY9
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, March 08, 2012
IT is a widely-held perception that Jamaicans are to be found every where. So, it is no surprise that an officer of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) trained alongside His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (always known as Prince Harry) at the distinguished Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom.
As a member of the platoon to which Prince Harry was assigned, Lieutenant Kayon Mills had the opportunity to eat, sleep, train, work and party alongside the 27-year-old prince who he said acted like "any of us".
Mills told the Observer yesterday that he and Prince Harry arrived at Sandhurst in 2005 to begin the military training as an officer and was immediately assigned to the same 20-member platoon where they had to interact daily.
So familiar had the two become that Mills was immediately greeted by The Prince when they met at a private breakfast at Up Park Camp yesterday morning.
"When we met, he immediately recognised me and we talked about the good old days," Mills said.
The Observer was told that at the private breakfast the Prince chatted with Mills for some time.
The prince is said to have hugged him and asked, "still working out?"
Prince Harry was also said to have felt Mill's biceps as he told the other soldiers, "this guy used to be enormous, he used to work out so much."
While a number of the platoon members hailed from outside the United Kingdom, Mills said he was the only Jamaican in the unit, although there were three other Jamaicans in the company.
He said Prince Harry seemed somewhat familiar with the Jamaican culture from then as there was constant sharing of cultures among the group.
"He was no longer royalty to us he was just one of the boys and he was not given any preferential treatment," Mills said.
He recalled that the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II did not appear to be sheltered but participated in all the activities the other members of his platoon did.
"When it's time to get grimy and dirty, he did, and when it was time to party he did also," he said.
At the military academy Mills said they participated in various activities such as drilling, marching, shooting, living in the field and just about everything that was necessary to transform a civilian to a military officer.
According to Mills, Prince Harry excelled at everything he did and was particularly good at running and shooting.
"He never sought any special treatment and we did not treat him any differently," he said, adding that he was also an excellent team player.
Prince Harry, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana, is in Jamaica as part of international celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of the queen's coronation.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1oVyrefY9
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