Place your bets: our money’s on Cameron’s kid
In a study of Britain’s most famous schoolchildren commissioned by The Oxford Student, bookmakers William Hill have named threeyear- old Nancy Cameron, daughter of Conservative Party leader David Cameron, as most likely to study at Oxford University.
With her mother a society heiress and her father aiming for Number 10, one might expect nothing less. Despite a reticence to demonstrate her academic prowess - or, indeed, whether she can colour within the lines - the bookies offered odds of 3/1 that Nancy, who is enrolled at a Church of England primary school, will one day matriculate in the Sheldonian.
The prodigious toddler made the headlines last year after appearing in a Conservative Party web broadcast, eating porridge in the family kitchen. It is not known whether the footage influenced the bookies’ decision. And if the Camerons are pleased at the news that their middle child may in 16 years’ time be following in the footsteps of her charismatic father, who studied PPE at Brasenose, the revelation will certainly not go unnoticed by another political clan.
Second in the survey, running at 6/1, came Leo Blair, the youngest son of the St John’s-educated Prime Minister. Known for littering the Cabinet Room with toy cars and trains, he is on a level pegging with President George Bush’s daughters Jenna and Barbara. The latter recently graduated from Yale, an Ivy League college. According to the bookies, a post-grad may be on the cards. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe comes in fourth, at 8/1.
The City of London School sixthformer, whose personal fortune amounts to £14m, beats co-star Emma Watson with odds at 12/1. Radcliffe, who is currently appearing naked in horse-fetish play Equ- us, is matched by London socialite and broadsheet columnist Peaches Geldof. She has previously said she wants to study journalism in New York, but the bookmaker’s decision may encourage her to join the staff boxes of Oxford’s newspapers.
A University spokesperson said, “If they do decide to apply for a place here one day, what will matter is raw intelligence - who your parents are is irrelevant. Everyone has to compete in our rigorous selection process.” Further down the ranks, bookies offered odds of 16/1 on Apple Martin, infant daughter of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, taking up study amongst the dreaming spires.
Her reserved, Fairtrade-loving parents may be pleased to note that their daughter soars ahead of Lourdes Leon, ten-year-old daughter of pop queen Madonna, who runs at 33/1. Princess Beatrice, granddaughter to the Queen and fifth in line to the throne, appears at 20/1. A sixthformer at St George’s School at Ascot, the young royal obtained two A*’s, two A’s and five B’s at GCSE.
In 2005, it was reported that she planned to shun Britain universities and study in an American Ivy League college. Her uncle, Prince Charles, studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. Despite being able to buy their chosen college a library with a week’s wage, the soccer glitterati are unlikely to hit the Bod any time soon. Romeo Beckham, middle son of England legend David Beckham, carries odds of 100/1.
Also coming bottom at 100/1 is Theo Walcott, the 18-year-old Arsenal footballer, who aged 17 became the youngest ever England player. Oxford Blues footballer David Robinson said, “It would have been nice to have him play for us - we’re always looking for experienced talent. But we’ll just have to manage without.” A William Hill spokesman said, “Normally we create odds using statistics, but when creating betting of this nature, a large amount of the input is based on opinion.
David Cameron’s daughter is our favourite based on the simple facts that David himself went to Oxford and there can be little doubt that Nancy will benefit from an excellent education, plus a possible PM as a father.
“Theo Walcott has a career already and is unlikely to give it up to go to university, even Oxford, and Romeo looks unlikely to have the pedigree!” “The Harry Potter pair are in with a slim chance as they have all made enough money and will perhaps take time off acting to finish their education.” Mr Cameron’s spokesperson said that the Tory leader wouldn’t be making political capital over the revelations that his daughter was seemingly more able than the Blair’s youngest child.
“I think he’ll probably take it with quite a large pinch of salt. “She’s a little bit young to be subject to these sorts of predictions, given that she hasn’t started school yet.” A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment.
3rd May 2007