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When Tatler published its list of the world's ten most powerful blondes this month, the girl in second place came as something of a surprise, particularly to the seasoned society watchers who treat the glossy magazine's every word as gospel. Beaten only by media queen Elisabeth Murdoch, the blonde in question was none other than Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy, the pretty young student with a penchant for partying and, according to Tatler, 'the new face of Royalty'. That Chelsy should be given such an accolade has caused more than a little comment in the salons of Chelsea and Kensington. Tatler is not just any magazine, but one whose opinions genuinely do matter in the rarefied world of the upper classes. It therefore didn't go unnoticed that Camilla Parker Bowles came only sixth, while the 21-year-old Zimbabwean also beat such society grandees as The Duchess of Westminster and Lady Bamford. So how has Chelsy performed this near miraculous transformation from brassy good-time girl to 'one of us' respectability? What has she done to so alter people's opinions of her? The answer, quite simply, is nothing. She is the same girl she was two years ago when she met Harry after he stopped off to visit friends in South Africa during a trip to work with AIDS orphans in Lesotho. It's just that, unfortunately for Chelsy, the real girl is so far removed from the public perception of her. According to her close friends and family, and key members of the younger Royal set, there is much more to Chelsy than the paparazzi pictures imply. True, she likes a drink - vodka with Red Bull or with lime and lemonade are two favourite tipples - and she likes to party, but that is not so very different from most people her age, including her boyfriend. Like him, she also smokes: her favourites are Marlboro Lights or Peter Styuvesant Lights. |