For Prince William the last six months have been, at the very least, a test of his courage, at worst, a living nightmare. Throughout this trying time he has conducted himself with discipline and a sense of duty. Ingrid Seward pasy tribute to an extraordinary young man whose bravery is a testament to his late mother's love and to the family who continue to protect him now.

Prince William appears to have come to terms with the loss of his mother with courage and fortitude. From the moment he was made aware of her death, early on the morning of 31 August 1997, he assumed an air of responsibility beyond his years.

Always pretective of his brother Harry, he comforted the younger boy whilst still in a starte of shock himself. His mature command of the situation was demonstrated by the way he took charge of the Harry when they both attented the Sunday service at Crathie Church on that fateful day, not to please his grandmother the Queen, but because he wanted to. Later on he made it clear that both he and Harry would prefer to remain within the privacy of the Balmoral estate rather than travel to London.

The only thing Prince William found particuarly difficult to handle was the presence of the world's media outside the gates of Balmoral. He is naturally very reserved in public and hates being put on display- so much so that he had to be persuaded to appear in front of the cameras even though his brother, father, grandfather and grandmother were there.

Over the last few months, perhaps reassured by thousands of letter of sympathy from all over the world, William appears to have learned to tolerate the media and even managed a shy glance at the cameras during the celebrations for his grandmother's golden wedding and on a few official outings he attended with his father. He has told freinds he feels safe with his father as Charles protects him from publicity as much as his late mother courted it.

Often appearing tough and dogmatic on the surface, inside William is as counerable and uncertain as any boy his age; all he wants is the blend into the background and be like everybody else.

As a 15-year-old adolescent he is unsure as to what kind of person he is growing into and what is expected of him. Added to all this confusino is the pain of missing his mother to whom he was extremely close. He felt protective towards her and loved to see her happy and laughing, but he also wanted to be free to be with his own friends.

William and Diana had their tears and tantrums because they were very similar. Like her, William combats his feelings of insecurity by asserting himself and refussing to do what is expected of him- although the gentler side of his nature usually prevailes and he gives in.

Prince Charles, only too aware of his son’s strenghts and weaknesses, is anxiuos to help him over the difficult times ahead with patience and understanding. Often portrayed as an uncaring father, in reality Charles is anything but.

‘My darling boys,’ as he calls William and Harry, come first in his life. He has arranged his busy royal scheduale so it will not intrude so much on his time with his sons. If the opportunity arises, he will sugges that they escort him on the occasstinoal tour overseas and official engagements at home, but puts them under no pressure to do so.

If William agrees to accompany his father, it gives Charles the opportunity to gently encourage the 15-year-old to accept rather than shudder at the realities of royal life as he makes his way through adolescence.

William is both blessed and cursed by the uncanny resemblance he bears to his mother, and friends and family fear more will be expected of him than he will ever be able to give. Acutely aware of this, the Royal Family have closed ranks around William and are using their considerable powers to protect him whilest they still can.

Newspaper editors have been asked to give him his privacy at school and photographers have been requested to keep their distance unless an official photocall is arranged. So far these wishes have been respected, and luckily for William his is genuinely at his happoest in the privacy of the Queen’s estates. With a dog at his side and a gun in his hand, both he and his cousin Peter Phillips, who is four years his senior, love nothing better than to rise at dawn and crawl through the frozen marshes with their grandfather Prince Philip to shoot duck in the grounds of the Sandringham estate.

Peter is, according to royal insiders, the apple of his grandparents’ eye, with an extremely compassionate nature and he has taken on the mantle of elder brother to William and Harry, involving them in as many activities as he can.

Despite has urbane looks, Wiliam, even at the tender age of 15, would not appear out of place in any sophisticated country boy and passionate about rural life and it’s preservation.

This does not mean he is immune to feminine charms- he loves pretty women- but he is naturally reserved bccause of the escessive amount of attention his position and appearance cammand. He feels secure in the company of his royal relations and is decoted to Peter’s sister Zara Phillips and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter, the glamorous Lady Gabriella Windsor.

Prince Charles is trying hard to allow Willian the time and space to be around his own friends and, with this in mind, is moving his living quarters at St. James’s Palace across to the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s former large apartment, York House, to give his boys a proper London base.

Despite losing his mother William is not shrt of female support. Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes, 40, nad Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 42, to speak to him almost every day on the telephone when they cannot see him or Harry.

The other woman in their lives, Tiggy Legge- Bourke, is still very much in evidence simply because they ‘adore’ her. Diana’s animosity towards her and maintained her strong relationship with both boys.

Just because Christmas William and Harry went to Kensington Palace for the last time. The boys wandered from room to room collecting any possessions they wanted to keep, accompanied only by Diana’s loyal butler Paul Burell. It was an emotional visit, but something that had to be done.

The future for William may well be fraught with difficulties but nothing will be as exacting as the past six months have been and with the support and help of his family and friends, William can look to the future with hope in his heart.

Majesty, 1998. Ingrid Seward.