The thought of his impending tour of duty in Iraq is clearly having a sobering effect on Prince Harry.
Unusually for the party-loving Royal, a visit to his favourite haunt on Friday night involved only a quiet drink with girlfriend Chelsy Davy and – by his standards – an early departure shortly after midnight.
In contrast, the normally more restrained Prince William didn’t seem too worried by the prospect of seeing his brother disappear to a war zone, and celebrated his new-found single status by partying until 3.30am – running up a £5,000 drinks bill in the process.
According to one party-goer at London's Mahiki nightclub, William, who is almost certain never to see front-line action, "was clearly on a mission to get as drunk as possible" with his friends, including Sir Richard Branson's daughter Holly.
"It was a case of complete role reversal," said another reveller.
"Harry was on his very best behaviour. He and Chelsy were not really drinking. It was quite clear Harry had other things on his mind. But William didn't care at all about getting drunk."
The elder Royal even ended the evening passionately kissing a mystery blonde.
Harry arrived at 8.30pm for a party organised by officers from the Household Cavalry to wish good luck to the A and B Squadrons, who leave for Iraq this week. Harry, a 2nd lieutenant in the Blues and Royals, will lead a troop from A Squadron.
A source said: "Harry had several Mahiki cocktails and tucked into the canapes, but generally he was taking things easy. He was determined not to be seen drunk in public ahead of his Iraq tour.
"He was surrounded by his Army friends and many senior officers. There was no way Harry was going to fool around in front of them. He knew it would send out the wrong message.
"It was a bit like a school disco and the headmaster being there. He was very junior compared to a lot of the men there, and both he and Chelsy were subdued."
The 22-year-old Prince and Chelsy, 21, were among the first to leave the Mayfair bar. It is believed they went on to a function in a private home in Chelsea's fashionable Kings Road.
In contrast, William, who has followed his brother into the Blues and Royals, only arrived at Mahiki at 11pm, after most of the senior officers had left. And he was clearly relishing his freedom following his split from Kate Middleton this month.
William treated friends to the club's £100 Treasure Chest cocktails – a potent combination of brandy and peach liqueur topped with a bottle of champagne and served in a wooden chest – followed by at least ten bottles of Dom Peri gnon Rosé at £240 a bottle, about five rounds of tequila shots and more cocktails, including Coconut Grenades, a frozen passion fruit and coconut cocktail.
"He arrived with his best friend Guy Pelly," said one party-goer. "They came through the back entrance as the front was cordoned off by police because it was so crowded."
After a few drinks, the 24-year-old Prince and 21-year-old Holly Branson took to the dancefloor to The Kinks’ track You Really Got Me.
"They were clearly very close and getting along like a house on fire," said one onlooker. "At one stage they were poking their tongues out at each other.
"Towards the end of the evening, though, he was sitting with a pretty blonde who had joined his table. They were chatting for a while, then William leaned over and started kissing her in front of his friends. It's clear he is loving single life."
Kate Middleton had been invited to the event by Prince Harry, but she pulled out at the last minute.
"Kate had been at Boujis nightclub the night before so perhaps she just didn't feel like going," said a source. "William was fuelled by alcohol and having a great time and didn't appear to be down in the dumps at all.
"We all thought it was strange Kate wasn't there, but it was just as well. William and the blonde he was with were clearly getting along."
The Mayfair bar is a firm favourite with both Princes. It was where William celebrated following his split from Kate after four-and-a-half years and where Kate, 25, went with her girlfriends to show she was 'fine' after the break-up – and enjoyed an intimate dance with architect Alex Shirley-Smith.
At one point during the party on Friday night, Princes William and Harry were seen having a heart-to-heart in a private corner.
"William had been upset to hear that some senior officers had been questioning the way he has handled his split," said one guest. "There was talk that William had not been terribly kind to Kate. When he heard that, William took Harry aside for a word."
During his time with Kate, the Prince was linked to at least two society beauties. Tess Shepherd, a 19-year-old from Scotland told of a "twirl and embrace" with the Prince in February; and this month it was revealed Kate and William broke up in 2004 over his obsession with It-girl Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe.
Unusually for the party-loving Royal, a visit to his favourite haunt on Friday night involved only a quiet drink with girlfriend Chelsy Davy and – by his standards – an early departure shortly after midnight.
In contrast, the normally more restrained Prince William didn’t seem too worried by the prospect of seeing his brother disappear to a war zone, and celebrated his new-found single status by partying until 3.30am – running up a £5,000 drinks bill in the process.
According to one party-goer at London's Mahiki nightclub, William, who is almost certain never to see front-line action, "was clearly on a mission to get as drunk as possible" with his friends, including Sir Richard Branson's daughter Holly.
"It was a case of complete role reversal," said another reveller.
"Harry was on his very best behaviour. He and Chelsy were not really drinking. It was quite clear Harry had other things on his mind. But William didn't care at all about getting drunk."
The elder Royal even ended the evening passionately kissing a mystery blonde.
Harry arrived at 8.30pm for a party organised by officers from the Household Cavalry to wish good luck to the A and B Squadrons, who leave for Iraq this week. Harry, a 2nd lieutenant in the Blues and Royals, will lead a troop from A Squadron.
A source said: "Harry had several Mahiki cocktails and tucked into the canapes, but generally he was taking things easy. He was determined not to be seen drunk in public ahead of his Iraq tour.
"He was surrounded by his Army friends and many senior officers. There was no way Harry was going to fool around in front of them. He knew it would send out the wrong message.
"It was a bit like a school disco and the headmaster being there. He was very junior compared to a lot of the men there, and both he and Chelsy were subdued."
The 22-year-old Prince and Chelsy, 21, were among the first to leave the Mayfair bar. It is believed they went on to a function in a private home in Chelsea's fashionable Kings Road.
In contrast, William, who has followed his brother into the Blues and Royals, only arrived at Mahiki at 11pm, after most of the senior officers had left. And he was clearly relishing his freedom following his split from Kate Middleton this month.
William treated friends to the club's £100 Treasure Chest cocktails – a potent combination of brandy and peach liqueur topped with a bottle of champagne and served in a wooden chest – followed by at least ten bottles of Dom Peri gnon Rosé at £240 a bottle, about five rounds of tequila shots and more cocktails, including Coconut Grenades, a frozen passion fruit and coconut cocktail.
"He arrived with his best friend Guy Pelly," said one party-goer. "They came through the back entrance as the front was cordoned off by police because it was so crowded."
After a few drinks, the 24-year-old Prince and 21-year-old Holly Branson took to the dancefloor to The Kinks’ track You Really Got Me.
"They were clearly very close and getting along like a house on fire," said one onlooker. "At one stage they were poking their tongues out at each other.
"Towards the end of the evening, though, he was sitting with a pretty blonde who had joined his table. They were chatting for a while, then William leaned over and started kissing her in front of his friends. It's clear he is loving single life."
Kate Middleton had been invited to the event by Prince Harry, but she pulled out at the last minute.
"Kate had been at Boujis nightclub the night before so perhaps she just didn't feel like going," said a source. "William was fuelled by alcohol and having a great time and didn't appear to be down in the dumps at all.
"We all thought it was strange Kate wasn't there, but it was just as well. William and the blonde he was with were clearly getting along."
The Mayfair bar is a firm favourite with both Princes. It was where William celebrated following his split from Kate after four-and-a-half years and where Kate, 25, went with her girlfriends to show she was 'fine' after the break-up – and enjoyed an intimate dance with architect Alex Shirley-Smith.
At one point during the party on Friday night, Princes William and Harry were seen having a heart-to-heart in a private corner.
"William had been upset to hear that some senior officers had been questioning the way he has handled his split," said one guest. "There was talk that William had not been terribly kind to Kate. When he heard that, William took Harry aside for a word."
During his time with Kate, the Prince was linked to at least two society beauties. Tess Shepherd, a 19-year-old from Scotland told of a "twirl and embrace" with the Prince in February; and this month it was revealed Kate and William broke up in 2004 over his obsession with It-girl Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe.
