Pint-Size Interviewer Grills Prince William on Childhood, Scars

March 19, 2009— -- Interviewing the future king of England is the type of assignment seasoned journalists clamor for.

But Prince William's recent exclusive interview went to someone decidedly less experienced but well prepared nonetheless -- 10-year-old cancer survivor Alice Marples.

Alice grilled him on everything from his childhood to arm-wrestling with Prince Harry. And she learned some princely tidbits. Prince William told her he wanted to be a policeman as a child. And he's got what he calls a "Harry Potter scar" on his head from a run-in with a golf club.

Alice was a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital, which treats pediatric cancer patients from all over the world and this week launches a massive building project to make it the largest cancer treatment center in Europe.

Prince William has been president of the Royal Marsden Hospital in London since 2007, where his mother, Princess Diana, was also president.

The hospital is also where Prince William and his mother, the late Princess Diana, have spent time meeting patients and raising awareness about the cancers they are fighting.

"I am so nervous but quite excited as well," Alice said before her big interview. "I have hundreds of butterflies in my tummy."

Yet the pint-size interviewer walked in, shook the prince's hand and got right down to business, asking him what inspired him to get involved with Royal Marsden.

"For a very long time, my mom was involved with the Royal Marsden, so she had a close connection to them, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps in that sense and help," the prince said as he settled onto the couch beside Alice. "Since doing that I've learned so much and met so many incredible people. If you've been unfortunate enough to have cancer ... most battle through with it and deal with it in such an inspirational way, much like you."

Harry Potter and Superpowers

Alice, dressed in a bright pink shirt, with ruffles, also grilled Prince William on his own hospital stay when he was 9 and got clocked in the head with a seven iron on the putting green.

"That was for my Harry Potter scar," he said. "I call it that because it glows sometimes, and some people notice it, and some people don't notice it at all.

"But that was very minor compared to what how many times you've been to hospital," the prince told his young interviewer.

She made Prince William laugh by asking him what he would like to be if he weren't a prince.

"That's a very difficult one. A long time ago I wanted to be a policeman when I was younger. I soon learned that wasn't a good idea," he said. "At the moment, I'm doing some helicopter flying, doing search and rescue."

But what if he could be invisible?

"I'd probably get myself in a lot of trouble," the prince said. "I'd probably go into the sort of newspaper office and hide in the background and listen to all the stories they talk about me."

And when it comes to brotherly rivalry, Prince William said there'd be no doubt who would prevail.

"Me and my sister always have play around arm wrestles," Alice said. "If you and Prince Harry had one, who would win?"

"That's not even worth asking, you know the answer to that. Obviously I'd win. Obviously," he said. "As the older brother you have that psychological power over your brother you see."

But for all her preparation and poise, Alice learned that even the most well-thought-out interview can go a little awry. Toward the end, she slipped up and called the prince by his brother's name, prompting William to burst into laughter.

"Brilliant, brilliant Alice," he joked, as she hid her face in her hands. "That is a keeper!"