The Unofficial British Royal Family Pages

Sunday 12 December 2004

Who is Jecca?

First, her name is Jessica, Jessica Craig. Her name is often linked to Prince William but lately, their connection seems to be a little stronger. Jecca met the prince during William’s gap year in 2001 when he spent time in Africa. More recently, she was a guest at Edward Van Cutsem’s wedding this fall (William and Harry are close friends of his) and word is that William is planning another stay at the Craig family ranch in Kenya during his Christmas break. These news snippets put my romance radar on red alert. Plus, Jecca was the only girl who warranted an official denial from the Palace about a romantic relationship with William – a little too defensive perhaps? Maybe Kate Middleton has been a ruse all along. The press likely promoted William and Kate as a couple because they got pictures of them together on the slopes of Klosters last spring. They also live together at school, an arrangement that guaranteed rumours of a romance – but back to Jecca. Even though William and Jecca are officially “friends,” how long was the relationship between Charles and Camilla referred to as a “friendship?” I still think William is far from contemplating marriage so it’s unlikely that we’ll see “Princess Jecca.” But my gut us that she is a significant person in his life. Just in case it turns out that I’m right, I figured I should do some digging on this elusive, publicity-shy maiden.  

Jessica Craig is reportedly 22 years old, the same age as Prince William. Judging from press reports about her 21^st birthday celebration, which reportedly included the prince, the date is some time in August. She grew up on her parents’ 55,000-acre safari estate in Kenya called Lewa Downs. The Craig family settled in the area in the early 1920s and her parents Emma and Will run the ranch today. And judging from descriptions of the place that I managed to find online, her childhood experience there would have been magical and a little isolated.  

“Leave room for the wildlife” has supposedly been the Craig family ethic since they settled in Kenya and so the property abounds with endangered species. Some of the unique animals found there are gerenuk (a gazelle with a giraffe-like neck), warthog, impala, bush buck (small antelope) and black rhino. Only a few hundred of these rhinos were living in the early 80s so the Craig family, with a benefactor, created the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary at the western end of the ranch. Their efforts were such a success that the sanctuary soon included the entire property. Around the same time, all of Lewa Downs became a wildlife sanctuary and the Craig family handed its management to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a non-profit organization.  

Besides this strong ethic of conservation, Jecca was immersed in the wild beauty of Africa. As the ranch’s online description goes, the property boasts amazing views of “the plains below and the craggy peaks of Mount Kenya in the distance.” “Brilliant gardens full of tropical flowers” and “thatched cottages with ensuite bathrooms and verandas” beckon guests. All of the food served on the ranch is also organically grown. To summarize, one Web site calls it “A private ranch, a private house, a private paradise.” What a fascinating background for a royal girlfriend and far from the environment William grew up in at Kensington and Highgrove.  

Currently, Jecca is studying anthropology at a university in London, a good fit for a girl who grew up near Masai tribesman, a living anthropological study (the Masai tribe continues to shun modern culture and live the same way they have for centuries). She is living in a house with other students. I’m sorry to say I couldn’t find out which school she attends. Apparently she dated Etonian shipping heir Harry Ropner for three years but they have since broken up. It’s the end of that relationship that has left the door wide open to speculation about Jecca and Wills.  

Beyond this information, it’s hard to dig anything up on the girl. In the few pictures I have seen of her, she seems to have a keen sense of style, opting to wear a striking “jackaroo” hat to the Van Cutsem wedding. She’s got long, light brown hair and her look is very natural – heavy make-up isn’t her thing. She reportedly sat next to William at his 21^st birthday party and family “sources” say the couple is in constant touch by phone and e-mail. Just like his parents pre-engagement, William is loathe to have his picture taken with Jecca so the two of them go to great lengths to keep their encounters private. Supposedly the official “Jecca denial” was requested by Prince William because Jecca and Harry were still an item. Apparently, the prince was embarrassed by the rumors of a romance because Harry is a friend of his. Word also leaked that Jecca and Wills share a “secret engagement.” The story goes that the couple jokingly said they promised to marry each other. Hard to know if that’s true but wouldn’t it be ironic if all this works out? You can bet I’ll keep my eye on it.

- Stephanie