|
Читайте также: |
PRINCESS BEATRICE is set to become the first royal to travel into space.
The 18-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York has agreed to fly on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic mission, the first commercial spacecraft.
Beatrice – fifth in line to the throne – was persuaded to take part by new boyfriend David Clark, who works in the sales and marketing division of the tycoon’s latest project.
The dashing 24-year-old has been stepping out with the Queen’s granddaughter since the summer after they were introduced by her cousin Prince William.
Mr. Clark, an Edinburgh graduate, revealed how he had managed to persuade Beatrice to make the three-and-a-hour flight, despite her initial reservations.
He would not reveal whether the Princess would be paying for the £100, 000 ticket, but added: ‘I’m absolutely going to get Beatrice on board and she’s very keen to do it. I’ve been on at her about it and she took some persuasion, but she has agreed to do it.’
He continued: ‘One of the most unpleasant things about going into space is the G-force. It’s like having a 20-stone man sitting on top of you. At first Bea said “no way”. She was worried, but I’ve managed to convince her to do it.’
The news will no doubt come as a surprise to Beatrice’s parents. While the Duke and Duchess are privately said to approve of their daughter’s current suitor, whether they will approve of her being launched into space on one of the first commercial flights remain to be seen.
It is envisaged Virgin Galactic will open for business in 2008 and – subject to safety and regulatory approvals – begin flights the following year.
As well as the expensive price tag, passengers will have an intensive four-day training course at the Virgin space camp in the Mojave Desert in the United States.
Then they board the mother ship Eve which will take them 70,000 feet into the Earth’s stratosphere before launching the spacecraft – which according to Sir Richard is safer than a NASA spaceship.
More than 13,500 people have already signed up. The tycoon has confirmed he will be on the first flight along with his parents.
A friend of A-level student Beatrice told The Mail on Sunday last night: ‘Beatrice is a very gregarious and outgoing girl. I imagine going down as the first Royal in space would be a huge incentive for her to go on the flight.’
‘Bea and Dave are very happy together and it’s pretty serious. At first everyone thought he was a flash in the pan because she was very serious about her ex-boyfriend Paulo Liuzzo. But she and Dave are now at the stage where they’re head over heels about one another.’
The couple attended last week’s Tatler Little Black Book party at new nightclub 24 in London where, according to guests, they were inseparable.
One said: ‘They are clearly very close. Beatrice looked totally besotted with Dave. At first she was reluctant to be pictured with him and just subtly brushed his hand and gave him some rather inviting looks. But as the night went on she lost her inhibitions. By the end of the party they were openly kissing and canoodling in front of everyone.’
David is the son of wealthy New Yorker Michael Clark. He lives with his family in £5 million mansion in Hampstead, North London. Another pal of Beatrice said: ‘He is a thoroughly decent chap.’
Дата добавления: 2015-11-16; просмотров: 76 | Нарушение авторских прав
| <== предыдущая страница | | | следующая страница ==> |
| Read the jokes and define the types of sentences and predicates in them. | | | VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR FOCUS |