Princes "Get Wibbled" at van Straubenzee memorial fundraiser

With a burlesque show and female impersonators the "Get Wibbled" fundraiser, which Princes William and Harry and their cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended, was not your typical memorial. But according to his friends and family, Henry van Straubenzee was anything but typical. Described by his brother Thomas as being a "kind, thoughtful and extremely funny" person with an "infectious and mischievous humour," Henry was killed in a car accident in 2002. Just 18 years old at the time, he had been working as a junior master at Ludgrove School in Berkshire where years before he and Prince Harry had studied together and become close friends. Henry was a passenger in the car when it hit a tree near the school killing Henry and seriously injuring the driver.

Before his untimely death Henry had made arrangements to spend his Gap Year teaching at Uganda's Bupadhengo school before going on to Newcastle University to study Business Management after which he hoped to go to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Sadly, Henry died before he could do any of these things. His parents Alexander and Claire set up a Memorial Fund for their son to support the isolated, overcrowded and financially struggling school, which their son had hoped to help. Although the Fund has been able to bring some improvements to the school and the community there is still much that needs to be done. Lack of classroom buildings and desks mean that children sit outside under trees for their lessons and the nearest source of water is a 1km away.

Thursday's "Get Wibbled" fundraiser raised thousands of pounds for the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund. The function, organized by Guy Pelly, Jamie Murray Wells and Susanna Warren, was held in London's Wilton's Music Hall. The sold out event featured a burlesque theme saucy enough to make Prince William blush and music lively enough to get Kate Middeton and Prince William bumping and grinding on the dance floor. Said party planner Marina Fogle the event ranged from the "shocking, the unbelievable to the slightly risqué. It was completely different [from] any charity event that anyone had been to before – there was no formality and stuffiness."

Well, maybe a just little. According to onlookers Kate Middleton and Prince William averted their eyes during a strip-tease performance that was a part of the evenings hour-long cabaret show. The couple sang along to a drag queen's performance of Prince's "Purple Rain" after which the singer gave an embarrassed Prince William a rose--between his teeth much to Kate Middleton's amusement. Onlookers say a blushing William promptly removed the flower and stuck it in the table's ice bucket.

Later the couple moved to the dance floor where they were spotted kissing. Said one onlooker, "Kate was smiling so widely and they looked like there was no one else in the world when they were dancing."

Also at the event were Prince Harry, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice of York, Bea's American boyfriend Dave Clark and Pippa Middleton. The royal cousins--minus Prince William and Kate--attended "Get Wibbled’s" after-party-party at Mahiki where Prince Harry made his first appearance on the London club scene since deploying in secret to Afghanistan in December. He was meant to return home with his troop yesterday but after the Australian Press leaked details of his deployment he was sent home and has been keeping his head down in Africa with girlfriend Chelsy Davy. Chelsy was not at the event and is believed to at home in South Africa with her parents as she continues her Easter break from Leeds University.

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