Prince Harry's awkward DJ set

Prince Harry reacts while playing a video game during a visit to Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, Nottingham. Picture: Splash Pictures Source: Supplied

HE may be known as the 'Party Prince'.

But Prince Harry looked far from comfortable as he had a go on a pair of DJ turntables.

The 28-year-old third in line to the throne was at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham, England on Friday morning (AEST) when he was invited behind the record decks.

The flame-haired prince, who last year was famously pictured partying naked in Las Vegas, gingerly stepped up to the turntables as a rapper introduced him as "DJ Prince Harry on the ones and twos".

He grinned nervously as he scratched along to a rap about himself, before earning a big cheer from the watching crowd of students and lecturers who began chanting "Harry! Harry!".

The performance won positive reviews on social media sites, where video of the session was shared.

"He's got practice from Las Vegas," was among the wry comments on YouTube.

Another added: "Ha ha, legend!"

The DJing came as royal officials dismissed media reports Prince Harry was about to embark on a six-month secondment to the Australian Army.

Australian newspapers reported planning was under way for Harry to be formally embedded in an Australian army unit or would make an extended visit as an observer.

Prince Harry reacts while playing a video game during a visit to Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, Nottingham. Picture: Splash Source: Supplied

But a spokeswoman for St James's Palace told AFP: "There are no such plans. He is still very much engaged in the military here."

Prince Harry also tried his hand at reading the news during his visit to the Confetti Institute.

Earlier in the day, he also got the chance to try out his parenting skills after being challenged to change a nappy with one hand during a visit to a Nottingham brain injury charity.

The soon-to-be uncle, whose sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth later this year, joked: "This is exactly how my brother is going to be."

"All the mothers will be saying 'Don't let him near the children'."

The prince also stepped into a boxing ring to enjoy a sparring session with a youngster at a local youth club.

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Prince gets funky at SXSW

Prince performed at the La Zona Rosa club on the fringes of the festival for an intimate crowd of around 300. Picture: Getty Images/John Sciulli Source: Getty Images

HOW else would Prince shut down the South by Southwest Music Festival that is basically a weeklong showcase of rock n' roll?

By throwing a totally different kind party: a grooving, brass band-backed funkfest that stretched to 3 am and outlasted many fans lucky to get inside in the first place.

As Justin Timberlake and the Smashing Pumpkins headlined other SXSW wrap-ups nearby, Prince prevailed as the toughest ticket Saturday night by performing for only 300 people in his first appearance at the annual music smorgasboard that featured 2,200 bands and artists this year.

Prince towered over them all - but his concert at the tiny La Zona Rosa club that sits on the fringe of the SXSW mayhem was no grandiose spectacle. He performed on a spartan stage behind a giant video board, and contentedly played bandleader instead of superstar for this funk-filled SXSW finale.

"They called our people and said they wanted some funk in Austin," said Prince, before belting out the last bars of a gentle rendition of Purple Rain.

A 12-piece brass band joined the latest incarnation of Prince's New Power Generation for a run of hits like 1999 and Cool that jammed a groove twist. The show began with the band making a Mardi Gras-style march onto the stage, which was quickly drowned out by shrieks upon the sight of Prince emerging in a magneta, high-collared shirt and snug black blazer.

Few fans, however, came away with photographed keepsakes. Prince is notoriously rigid about controlling his music and image, and organizers warned the crowd three times before the show that taking pictures was forbidden. Fans who flaunted the rule were scolded by security or told to scram.

Prince's set went on till 3am, outlasting many of his fans who sloped away early.  Picture: Getty Images/John Sciulli

Even simply using a cell phone was banned- a biting irony, given that the concert was thrown by Samsung Galaxy and promoters worked the crowd beforehand offering customers fresh phone batteries or device test-drives.

Prince never played guitar during the set. Nor did he perform his new single Screwdriver that debuted earlier this year, opting instead for funk covers: Curtis Mayfield's We're a Winner and Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Until You Get Enough among them as the night dragged on and weary fans made their way to the exits early.

"Don't make me hurt you. You know how many hits I got?" Prince said during the first of several pseudo-set closers, before launching into yet another encore.

Green Day, Dave Grohl, Vampire Weekend, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks also starred at SXSW this week.

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DJ Ajax remembered as Prince of dance

Ajax was voted one of Australia's top five DJs every year since 2005. Picture: Manuela Cifra Source: news.com.au

That’s how I felt when I woke up this morning and like every other 21st century fool addicted to social media I checked my Twitter feed and saw Inthemix had posted “Tributes pour in for DJ Ajax”.

What? Why? He was lost to us overnight, hit by a truck near Melbourne’s Cemetery in Parkville. I felt sick. I still do.

His real name was Adrian Thomas, a spritely Sydneysider who for a long time was both the Crown Prince of Australia’s dance party scene and its court jester too.

He and his Bang Gang DJs collective almost single-handedly brought bright neon clothing into fashion and Ajax would often spin tunes while dressed in a hot pink onesie.

I remember being on the Bacardi Express concert train tour that travelled from Sydney and Brisbane in 2008 and meeting Ajax there.

He was a sweet, warm dude who always had a twinkle in his eye and a penchant for talking about new tunes as if he’d just discovered plutonium.

He and the Bang Gang DJs put on a veritable DJ masterclass at each Bacardi Express stop, mixing in MIA’s Paper Planes at different tempos and bringing the party into the red levels every time.

I interviewed him a year later about the record label he had started - Sweat It Out, and he spoke fervently about signing Melbourne hip hop quartet Gameboy Gamegirl.

“They’ve got their own sound,” he enthused.

Electro house and mash-ups never sounded as exciting and edgy in anyone else’s hands and for a few years I was lucky enough to see Ajax and his cohorts play sterling, jaw-bruising sets everywhere from the 3D World Dance Music Awards in Sydney and Honky Tonks in Melbourne to Splendour In The Grass in Byron Bay.

My crew nicknamed him Ajax Captain Fun. He never knew this, he was too busy rocking the party and making sure everyone else was having a good time.

In 2008, I was hanging out with Sydney friends and they scrunched up their faces when I mentioned Bang Gang DJs, saying they were sick of them.

That same night we saw Ajax and his band of merry men play a four-hour festival set of hip hop, house, techno and dirty French electro. At one stage he was wearing a brightly painted motorcycle helmet while spinning.

Everyone agreed with me afterwards that it was time for a backlash against the backlash: it was impossible not to love Ajax.

Police have ruled there were no suspicious circumstances in his death.

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Prince Harry flirts with a Pussycat Doll

Prince Harry opened up in an interview with the BBC about his Las Vegas antics.

Britain's Prince Harry, seen here after playing a charity polo match in Brazil, reportedly jumped for joy at hearing he was going to be an uncle. Source: AP

Former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts attends the Grazia Fashion Week party at Bar100 in The Rocks in Sydney, on Wednesday May 2, 2012. Photo: Gary Friedland Source: Supplied

PRINCE Harry has been spotted flirting and partying with a girl of Pussycat Doll fame, Ashley Roberts.

The 28-year-old royal was spotted partying with the former Pussycat Doll, 31, his cousin Princess Beatrice and pals including reality TV stars Hugo Taylor and Spencer Matthews from 'Made in Chelsea'.

They were buying a round of shots for the bar at Bodos Schloss, which is owned by his close friend, Thomas Van Straubenzee.

A source told USMagazine.com: "Harry was having a great time drinking with his friends.

"He had a good ol' flirt with some cute girls, including Ashley Roberts from [the] Pussycat Dolls, but it was just banter and he spent most the night with his friends, and Bea, in the VIP area."

Harry reportedly took a regular cab home and wrote a personalised message to his driver's daughter, which has since been posted on Twitter.

In the note to teenager Mickie Jayne, he wrote: "Dear Mickie, your dad loves you . . . teach him to drive properly!" He also wished a her friend, Callie Connelly, a "happy b-day."

Roberts has previously been linked to AFL star Josh Gibson who was spotted around Melbourne with the busty blonde.

Roberts has spent a lot of time in Australia, where she has been seen with Sydney identities including Mark Judge, and Sydney Roosters NRL player Mitchell Pearce.

Hawthorn AFL player Josh Gibson spotted with singer Ashley Roberts from US all-girl group Pussy Cat Dolls, at Cushion Lounge club, St Kilda in Melbourne on 05/09/2010. Source: Herald Sun

Roberts is living in London while she acts as a judge on 'Dancing on Ice' and she recently revealed she loves British men.

She said: "British guys are amazing although I haven't met any yet."

Mark Judge and with former Pussycat Doll band member Ashley Roberts. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

The singer also hinted that she might consider staying in London after the ITV series.

US singer Ashley Roberts, formerly of girl band Pussycat Dolls, with Sydney Roosters NRL player Mitchell Pearce spotted leaving Bar 100 together at The Rocks in Sydney on 28/04/2012. Source: News Limited

She said: "I've got another four weeks of Dancing On Ice but when that's done, who knows? There's a few things in the pipeline but I'm excited to see what's next."

Ever since he started partying, it seems there's just something about Prince Harry that everybody loves.

The third in line to the throne has made headlines for all the wrong reasons - but somehow he has emerged more popular than ever.

His indiscretions have embarrassed the royal family, but the 28-year-old has quickly redeemed himself in charity work.

The young royal has many different personas: there's Harry the fighter pilot and the party boy; there's the humanitarian  and the rebellious, pot-smoking royal; then there's Harry the family man and Harry the little royal.

Good or bad, there always seems to be a side of Harry to love.

Pick your favourite Harry below.

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