A "New" Prince Harry Visiting U.S.

Took Commercial Flight; Making Serious Stops; He And William Have Been Behaving Themselves

(CBS)  Prince Harry was to make a stop at the World Trade Center Friday during his first official visit to the United States.

The 24-year-old prince was to meet Friday with relatives of four people who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Later he will formally name the British Garden in New York's Hanover Square to honor the 67 British victims of the terrorist attack.

Harry was also to visit the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan, where he was to tour the prosthetics facilities and a post-traumatic stress clinic. A British soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan was to accompany Harry.

He is the younger son of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and is third in line to the British throne, behind his father and brother, Prince William.

Harry took a commercial flight to New York, just one sign, says royals-watcher and showbiz journalist Katie Nicholl of the U.K. newspaper the Mail on Sunday. "This is a real break with tradition," she told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Friday. "And as we were told at the press conference back in London, this is Harry's way. This is the paving for a new generation of royals, and this is how Harry wants to do it."

Nicholl says the current military commitments for both princes "are paramount. They are their priority, and they really have had their heads down. We have not seen them partying in London. We haven't seen them out. There has been absolutely no bad behavior recently. They really have been exemplary. And I'm afraid I can't say anything else other than that, because that's the truth. But this is a one-off trip. ... And it's really, really important for Harry."

"I'm told that both boys are knuckling down to work," Nicholl said later, "and that is all it is at the moment. No time for girls, engagements or anything else. Or parties, for that matter."

Harry is slated to play polo Saturday, and a huge party is planned afterwards but, "Guess who won't be there?" Nicholl remarked. "Harry is actually flying back because he has to be in the cockpit first thing on Monday morning. So there's no drinking. He's got to get his rest and he's got to get on the flight straight back home. So I'm deeply disappointed!"

"This is a more mature Harry, a more charitable Harry," Nicholl observed.

When prompted by Smith, Nicholl mentioned "a big buzz at the moment that there's an imminent announcement" about William and longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton. "It seems to be coming from Canada. We've just been told that the BBC is making a program about William and Kate, their story, which has triggered all sorts of engagement rumors. But let's not fast forward too much. We've been here before."

[number1GI]

They grow up so fast

[vittoria1]

The Queen is not going to "pass over" Prince Charles. It is not her call anyway. Parliament would have to alter the laws of succession in order to transfer the Crown from the heir designated by the Act of Settlement, and Charles is that heir, with William immediately following him. The Queen cannot change that.

By the way, whatever you think of Prince Charles, he is the best-educated and best-prepared Prince of Wales in history. Even people who don't like him or his views admit that.

[dejahthoris2]

Mark my words, he will be the next King. I don't think William wants it. And Charles may wish it but the Queen will pass him over.

[rrozsa]

The "boys" are growing up. Maybe some of that partying had to do with the fact that they were still in college and "trying their wings" as kids that age do? At age 24, I'm not surprised to see Harry starting to settle down somewhat.