The Real Fresh Prince.

• Author: VILBIG, PETER
• Position: Prince William, and the controversial monarchy in the United Kingdom

FOCUS: Can the Popular Prince William Assure the Survival of Britain's Monarchy?

TEACHING OBJECTIVES

To employ potential student interest in 18-year-old Prince William as an entry point in building an understanding of Britain's monarchy, its role in history, the nature of constitutional monarchy, and the arguments for and against the monarchy in today's democratic Britain.

Discussion Questions:

* What purposes can a monarchy serve in a democratic country?

* Millions Of people in the U.S. are eager to learn all they can about the lives of young royals. Why, in a country that fought a revolution to free itself of the rule of Britain's George III, might people be so enamored of British royalty?

* Do Americans treat some celebrities almost like royalty?

CLASSROOM STRATEGIES

Before Reading: Remind students of the difference between a constitutional monarchy, in which governing authority is held by elected officials, and an absolute monarchy, in which royalty has real power.

Discussion: Discuss the contradictions in Prince William's life. Does his wealth help compensate for or make more profound the tragedies he has suffered in his personal life? Should people of Prince William's status embrace public attention? Do they have a right to high position and privacy?

Guided Reading: Direct students to the observation, on page 17, that the royal family "plays a vital role representing British ideals." What ideals does it represent? (Tradition? History? Pageantry?)

Next, direct students to the criticism of the monarchy voiced by writer Claire Rayner. Is the monarchy "unrewarding and destructive"? Is it a "crime" against the people of Britain?

Debate: Pro-monarchists should explain how the pageantry, history, and tradition embodied in the monarchy strengthen Britain's sense of nationhood.

Anti-monarchists should explain why the unequal privileges enjoyed by members of the royal family--financial as well as official--outweigh any advantage they provide the nation. Both groups might refer to the "Princely Pleasures" article on page 19 to bolster their arguments.

Web Watch: For information on the British monarchy, students can log on to http://www.royal.gov.uk/ For information specific to Prince William, they can log on to www.angelfire.com/mo/ quotesrule/index.html

AT 18, PRINCE WILLIAM SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL -- MONEY, LOOKS, AND CHARM. BUT WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO REVERSE THE DECLINE OF BRITAIN'S 1,200-YEAR-OLD MONARCHY

Call him Prince Charming. He just turned 18, stands 6 feet 2 inches, and has the piercing blue eyes of his famous mother and the of kissable lips and strong chin that send teenage girls into paroxysms of screams and swoons. And, incidentally, he's both wealthy--worth more than $20 million easy--and destined to be the King of England.

If you ever imagined anyone having it all it would seem to be the WOW boy, William of Wales, aka Prince William, the real Fresh Prince of Buckingham Palace. How cool is he? When Britney Spears found out he was interested in talking with her, she e-mailed him. How popular is he? When the royal family announced that William would enroll next year at Saint Andrews University in Scotland, thousands of girls...