Big Apple readies to greet royal little brother

New York — He’s a 24-year-old Londoner whose grandmother offered to pay for his trip to New York.

On Friday, Prince Harry will start his first official visit to America, with plans including a stop at the World Trade Center site, meetings with wounded veterans and a polo match.

“Prince Harry is well known and respected in the United States for having deployed alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan,” said Alan Collins, the British consul general in New York.

Third in line to the British throne, the red-haired prince is a much-watched member of the royal family on both sides of the Atlantic. His party-boy image, romantic escapades and brushes with scandal regularly make newspaper headlines. Several years ago, Harry had to apologize for wearing a Nazi swastika armband to a friend’s costume party.

But the younger son of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles plans, no doubt, to be on his best behavior representing his country’s crown during his two-day New York visit.

His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, is paying privately for Harry’s travel and that of his staff, easing the young prince into his royal role. He’s in line for the throne behind his older brother, William, and his father, Charles.

Dolores Hope celebrates her 100th birthday

Los Angeles — “I thought it was going to be just another birthday,” Dolores Hope mused as she attended a Hollywood gathering celebrating her 100 years.

When her late husband, entertainer Bob Hope, reached his 100th birthday, he was too frail to enjoy it. Although Dolores Hope was brought to Wednesday night’s party in a wheelchair, she was alert and happy as she greeted old friends and posed for photographs.

At 100, Dolores Hope is little changed. Her white hair is richly coifed, her skin is smooth and her voice is deep and warm.

She was born Dolores DeFina in New York’s Harlem on May 27, 1909, and grew up in the Bronx.

“We were poor but we didn’t know it,” she said.

As Dolores Reade, she sang in New York nightclubs. George Murphy, Hope’s co-star in the musical “Roberta,” advised him to see a pretty singer at the Vogue Club. After a brief courtship, the couple were married on Feb. 19, 1934.

Bob Hope died in 2003 at age 100.

Attorney: Rihanna will come to Brown hearing

Los Angeles — Rihanna is among the witnesses whom prosecutors plan to call during a hearing in Chris Brown’s assault case, an attorney said Thursday.

Donald Etra, Rihanna’s lawyer, told reporters that prosecutors have told him the Barbados-born singer will receive a subpoena to testify at a preliminary hearing June 22. The hearing will focus on whether there is enough evidence to continue the case against Brown.

Etra said Rihanna will comply with the order. It would mark her first appearance in court since felony assault and criminal threats charges were filed against Brown in March.

If she is called to testify, the 21-year-old singer would be subject to cross-examination by Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos.

Other potential witnesses have not been named, but will likely include police investigators.

Brown was arrested in February on suspicion of hitting and choking Rihanna in a rented car hours before the couple were scheduled to appear at the Grammys.

Etra wouldn’t address their relationship now, but said Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was following the case closely.

Patriots QB Brady says no more kids on the way

Foxborough, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday there’s no baby on the way for him and his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Brady, who has a son with actress Bridget Moynahan, married Bundchen this winter in a pair of ceremonies in Costa Rica and California. RadarOnline.com reported last week that Bundchen is telling friends she’s pregnant.

In his first news conference since an injury in the 2008 opener knocked him out for the rest of the season, Brady said Thursday that the injury allowed him to spend more time with his 21-month-old son, Jack.

“I cherish those moments,” he said. “There’s been great things happening in my life for a long time and certainly this year was no different. (There were) different areas of success, with marriage and with children.”

When reporters noted that he used the plural “children” and asked if he was expecting another child, Brady shook his head with a smile and said, “No.”

“One is enough,” Brady said. “I have dogs and that’s all I need.”

Engvall to host Country Music Television awards

Nashville, Tenn. — Comedian Bill Engvall will host the Country Music Television awards next month.

The show will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., on June 16.

Performers include Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and British rockers Def Leppard.

Engvall hosts the CMT series “Country Fried Home Videos” and is the star of the TBS sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show.”