British Royal Wedding

With a World Cup Final lost and sorrows to be drowned, it was a time for true leadership. William and Harry did not prove lacking.

The England squad might be used to downing a few post-match pints but for conspicuous consumption of champagne, cocktails and raw spirits their experience pales beside that of the party-loving princes.

Harry, 23, was quick to set the pace, swigging vodka from a bottle held by England substitute Toby Flood. And William, 25, encouraged Jonny Wilkinson, who had given up alcohol in the quest for peak fitness, to down several glasses of champagne.

They appeared to help relax the player, who was egged into kissing his 25-year-old girlfriend, Shelley Jenkins, by teammates squeezed around the bar. He also had a few moments of male bonding with a bleary-eyed William, who at one point affectionately patted Wilkinson’s chest as he lavished praise on the man whose kicking took England to the brink of glory.

The prince later appeared to swap mobile phone numbers with the star. Wilkinson was also heard squealing with delight after Harry whispered something in his ear. The hotel party lasted for nearly two hours, during which time William and Harry downed white wine, beer and vodka.

The princes and several of the players and their wives and girlfriends then moved on to L’Etoile - France’s answer to Boujis - where the most expensive bottles of wine cost upwards of £500.

A relative of one player who was at the party said afterwards:

“William and Harry were very friendly and chatted with everyone. They got completely bladdered and certainly seemed to making the best of a bad situation.”

William and Harry left the club 6am looking extremely well refreshed. William and Harry returned to the players’ hotel yesterday evening to say farewell to the squad.

The princes sat in the bar drinking and watching the Brazilian Grand Prix with some of the players and their wives.

William told a friend: “I don’t know where today has gone. I’m so confused. Tomorrow is going to be the worst hangover ever.” (via Daily Mail)

This entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 4:29 am and is filed under Prince Harry, Prince William. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.