Royal pair begin ski holiday

Press, 10 January 1984, Page 8

Royal pair begin ski holiday

NZPA-PA Vaduz The Prince and Princess of Wales began their ski-ing holiday yesterday in the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, hoping for a little privacy. On a similar holiday last year they were continually harassed by the European press, who took to fast cars, skis, and even a helicopter to try to keep up with the Royal couple.

But this year Prince Charles and the Princess, and the Buckingham Palace

officials, are hoping for a compromise.

So a special press photo call with the Royal couple has been arranged for today on the alpine slopes at Vaduz, capital of the Principality.

The Palace has made it known that the Prince and Princess, having agreed to the photo and film session, then expect the rest of their holiday “to be considered private with no intrusive activity by any member of the media.” But as British and Euro-

pean journalists gathered in Vaduz, it seemed that some freelancers and even British national newspapers might choose to ignore the Palace request. Most of the British dailies have said that they will respect the Royal couple’s wishes. But the editors of the “Daily Express,” “Daily Star,” and “The Sun” have all declined to comment on whether they would comply with the privacy plea. When the Prince and Princess were at Vaduz last year they were “buzzed” by

a heliicopter carrying journalists from the Swiss magazine, “Blick.”

Hans Peter Galingher, “Blick’s” news -editor, has promised that this year’s coverage will be “a bit milder.” But he has said that if the Royal couple ski on public slopes they are fair game to be photographed and his cameramen would be there. Some of the British papers who are complying with the Palace request have said that they are prepared to use freelance

pictures in certain circumstances, and so it seems likely that “Blick” staff will be joined by other photographers on the slopes. Only last week the Queen was said to be "very angry” about the presence of reporters and photographers on the Royal estate at Sandringham. Her press secretary, Mr Michael Shea, said that there had been “continued harassment” of the Royal Family during the Christmas and New Year holiday.