Prince William's out of Africa party

Jet, July 14, 2003

* PRICE WILLIAM'S OUT OF AFRICA PARTY: Britain's Prince William plays a set of drums with the Shakarimba band in the Queen's Guard Chamber at Windsor Castle in England. William celebrated his 21st birthday and had the band flown in from Botswana to perform. He chose Out of Africa for a private, African-themed costume party, with more than 300 invited family and friends. William, who is teaching himself Swahili and has been on safari in Africa several times, said he wanted to avoid a "sterile" official function and have his relatives let their hair down. "I thought it would be fun to see the family out of black tie and get everyone to dress up," he said. He invited Shakarimba, a six-piece percussion band, after he heard them perform in Africa two years ago. Guests received elephant-shaped invitations and rooms were swathed in African bush decor.

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