PRINCE WILLIAM MAKES DEBUT AS PRESIDENT OF BAFTAS

PRINCE WILLIAM MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AS PRESIDENT OF THE BAFTAS, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS GRANDFATHER AND AUNT, THIS EVENING AND PAID A MOVING TRIBUTE TO THE OUTGOING LORD ATTENBOROUGH. DESPITE FREEZING WINTRY CONDITIONS THE YOUNG PRINCE LOOKED DASHING AS HE MADE HIS WAY ALONG THE RED CARPET, TAKING TIME TO HAVE HIS PICTURES TAKEN WITH THE GALLERY OF FEMALE ADMIRERS. ONE TEENAGE FAN SAID: 'HE IS SO CHARMING. HE DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ROYALTY AT ALL AND SPENT AGES HAVING HIS PHOTO TAKEN WITH US.' AND HIS FIRST TASK WAS TO PRESENT A BRITISH ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP AWARD TO AVOWED REPUBLICAN VANESSA REDGRAVE. THE FELLOWSHIP RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUALS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FILM AND HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN TO SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST NAMES, INCLUDING CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND ALFRED HITCHCOCK. REDGRAVE, 73, HAS HAD A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER, WINNING THE BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OSCAR IN 1977 FOR JULIA, IN WHICH SHE PORTRAYED A JEWISH WOMAN MURDERED BY THE NAZIS. BUT WHILE SHE IS PART OF SHOW BUSINESS ROYALTY, SHE HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO KEEN ON BRITAIN'S MONARCHY. A SELF-CONFESSED REPUBLICAN, IN THE 1970s SHE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE WORKERS' REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WHICH CALLED FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE MONARCHY. THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH BAFTA, PRINCE PHILIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ITS INCEPTION AND BECAME ITS FIRST PRESIDENT, FOLLOWED BY HIS DAUGHTER, PRINCESS ANNE. WILLIAM SUCCEEDS LORD ATTENBOROUGH TO BECOME ITS FIFTH PRESIDENT. THE PRINCE GAVE A SPEECH TO THE GATHERED STARS AND INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE BEFORE THE CEREMONY BEGAN. HE TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT HE WAS 'HONORED' TO TAKE THE ROLE. HE ADDED: 'THE VISUAL ARTS ARE SUCH A VITAL PART OF WHAT MAKES UP THE FABRIC OF THE NATION. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO LORD ATTENBOROOUGH FOR INVITING ME TO TAKE OVER FOR HIM. BRITAIN HAS BEEN A CULTURAL LEADER IN SO MANY WAYS LEST IN ITS CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS.' HE ADDED: 'OCCASIONS SUCH AS TONIGHT ARE OBVIOUSLY WONDERFUL SHOWCASES FOR THE BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY, BUT I AM ALSO EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF WORKING WITH BAFTA ON ITS MYRIAD CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS. BECAUSE WHAT IS LESS KNOWN ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION IS HOW MUCH GOOD IT DOES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ITS MENTORING SCHEMES, CAREER STARTER INITIATIVES AND LEARNING AND EVENTS ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT THE GENIUS OF FILM. THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BECOME YOUR FIFTH PRESIDENT.'