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Highness, James planted it in the 1960s. Its Latin name is Ficus Benjamina," Celia Gaskell proudly pointed out.

"1966, to be precise," James proffered softly, adding, "That would make it all of 26 years old!" he said as they caught up to their royal visitors.

"Fooled me!" Diana said with a surprised grin. The Gaskells, the Governor General, and the staff all politely smiled.

James and Celia Gaskell owned and operated Montpelier and, this Royal visit notwithstanding, were quite proud of the historic property and the refinements and restoration they had lovingly done to it. Set 750 feet above sea level on one of the islands undulating hills, the once working sugar plantation, great house and the dozen guest cottages, spaced apart amid a profusion of shade trees, shrubs and plants, offered a proper amount of seclusion and privacy. Though the tone was predominantly British, as was the inn's guest list, Montpelier had earned, and deserved, its worldwide reputation for impeccable service and privacy among discriminating guests.

Bawdy Las Vegas, Nevada, touts the slogan What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.' On reserved Nevis, what happened at Montpelier truly always did stay at Montpelier . . . in perpetuity. This tradition of protected privacy had been one of the features which attracted Diana.

Earlier that month "Woman" magazine voted Diana as the "Most Beautiful Woman" in Britain. A few days later the world learned that Diana and Charles had commenced a formal separation after almost ten and a half years of a publicly perceived fairytale' marriage. The trip to Nevis with her sons was Diana's first foreign outing since the separation.

"Are there a lot of trees like this on the island?" young Prince Harry asked, pointing to it. Before either of the Gaskells could answer, his brother's voice rang out.

"Harry! I found the swimming pool!" William, who with one of the Gaskell children had wandered from the courtyard, was a few yards distant at the top of the stairs on the stone path from which Montpelier's pool was visible. He was quickly joined by the three other children and the ever-present protection detectives.

"Well, your Highness, I intended to give you our grand arrival tour of the property, starting with the main building," James Gaskell smiled, indicating the massive stone building behind the Benjamin Ficus. "But it appears the young princes have set the pace and already discovered Montpelier's most popular area. Why don't we just follow their lead and join them?"

"I

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