Prince Harry parties hard

The time is 3am, the drink is flowing freely, and Prince Harry is continuing to make the most of his 'educational' gap year.

The high-spirited 19-year- old had asked nightclub guests not to photograph him after arriving two hours earlier with his older brother William.

But when Wills left him alone at China White in Mayfair, Harry soon got into the party spirit.

Surrounded by giggling girls, he left the cordoned-off VIP area and was happy to be pictured singing along with the music on the crowded dance floor.

Foremost among the prince's new-found companions were Mexicans Daniella Chavez, 20, and Paula Sierra, 19.

In open-necked shirt and baseball cap, Harry spent several minutes chatting to the girls from Guadalajara.

Last night the pair, both English students and part-time cocktail waitresses, described the prince as 'a very polite person who seemed happy to be surrounded by normal people his own age'.

Miss Sierra, pictured gazing up into Harry's eyes, said: 'He was gorgeous, charming and very polite. We talked for about five minutes and I found him to be a perfect gentleman.'

Miss Chavez added: 'He could have stayed in the VIP area all night but he was having such a good time he wanted to mingle with everyone else.'

Julianna Guzman, 24, a bar supervisor from Colombia who took some of the pictures which emerged yesterday, said: 'We all noticed him as soon as he came in. All the women were crowding around him and he seemed very happy with that.

'We wanted to take some pictures but at first he asked us not to. He was very polite but he laughed and said that the photographs would get him into trouble. But we carried on taking photographs anyway and in the end he seemed quite relaxed about it.'

It was last Wednesday night that Harry arrived at China White with William, 21, who spent much of his own gap year in Patagonia working for charity. And it was not long before the older, more reserved prince made his departure.

Harry was spotted in the VIP area kissing and cuddling 20-year- old topless model Lauren Pope, but preferred to spend most of his time on the public dance floor.

After leaving the club when it closed at 3.30am he was seen walking down Piccadilly with a male friend. His next public appearance was at midday in a Chelsea brasserie, looking hung over and drinking several cups of coffee.

Harry was thought to have been chastened by the glare of publicity which two years ago accompanied revelations about his drinking and drug-taking. Royal aides insist he has been learning about his father's extensive charity and business interests, as well as gaining work experience on an Australian cattle station - while making time to catch the England rugby team's World Cup matches and go bodysurfing. It has even been suggested he might take a second gap year before, it is hoped, going to Sandhurst to train as an Army officer.

His exploits at China White, which culminated in an ' enthusiastic embrace' with Miss Pope, have divided public opinion. Some royal sources have accused him of being 'far too reluctant' to carry out engagements, describing him as 'immature'.

However, for those from his own generation he is just another young man who wants to have fun. 'I think it is great that he wants to be like everyone else,' said Miss Guzman. 'After all, you are only young once and he will have plenty of time to do all that boring stuff when he is older.'