Being a prince on television can be fun. But the whispering and staring that goes with it make Daniel Williams want to wear big sunglasses, pull up his hood or dye his hair pink.

The eight-year-old Essex schoolboy has shot to fame as the face of Stephen Poliakoff's BBC television drama The Lost Prince.

He has received acclaim for his portrayal of the little-known Edwardian royal, Prince John, the youngest child of George V and Queen Mary in the primetime two-parter.

Daniel presents a signed copy of the Lost Prince to fellow St Phillip's Priory School Pupils Sam Purkiss and Edward Lakin watched by Sister Michelle Picture: ROB SAMBROOK

The young royal was diagnosed as an epileptic and suffered from autistic-like learning difficulties. As such, he was unable to participate in public life and became increasingly isolated from his family.

As part of the publicity for the TV series, Daniel's face was plastered all over billboards, underground advertisements and the front of television listings magazines.

That has its pros and cons, says the child actor, who goes to St Phillip's Priory School in Chelmsford.

He said: "It's really fun but I don't like it when people recognise me and point and say 'It's the boy from The Lost Prince'."

The talented youngster has already appeared in a Blue Peter version of Beatrix Potter stories and Poliakoff's Perfect Strangers.

Daniel got into acting through his elder brothers Robert, 15, and Joseph, 13, who attended the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.

However, the young performer, who lives in Marlowe Road, Billericay, is not sure if he wants to become an actor when he grows up.

He said: "I would like to be three things - a footballer, an actor or a sculptor."

Published Friday, February 7, 2003

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