While half the country goes gaga for Prince William, a Hawke's Bay-born model and fashion student is playing it cool on his New Zealand visit.
Rebecca Coddington, 25, has partied with the 27-year-old heir to the throne plenty of times, along with her brother, polo player Jonny Coddington.
"It's not really that
big a deal within the polo set, but everyone else seems to think so," she said.
Despite him having a girlfriend of several years, girls still flung themselves at him, she
said.
Though the future King of England was a "nice, polite guy" and a very good polo player, he did not make a big deal of himself, she said.
"He's not arrogant or anything and has a good time and goes to parties."
At one party, she recalls slipping over while holding two bottles of champagne and said the Prince helped her up.
"I could have picked myself up," but she appreciated the gesture from the prince.
Coddington was born in Waipukurau and grew up on the family farm. Her father, David, and three older brothers are avid polo players and they sell and ride professionally,
sometimes against the royal family members.
"My brother (Jonny) played [William] last year and beat him. But I couldn't because he has a two or three handicap. Harry's really good and quite hard out but William is tidy and neat and is better than Harry."
Harry, William's younger brother, politely mocks her "Nu Zild" accent.
Coddington is based in Auckland, where she is studying fashion design and plans to move to London.
Prince William arrived in New Zealand yesterday, starting in Auckland and flew into
Wellington this morning.
Today, the Prince is expected to represent the Queen at the opening of the new Supreme Court House building, a wreath laying at the National War Memorial, a
barbecue hosted by Prime Minister John Key at Premier House, and visit Wellington
Children's Hospital. He has visited the All Blacks and officials preparing for the Rugby World Cup 2011, and the Viaduct where he sailed on a yacht.
