Andy's boldly going for Cyn

PRINCE Andrew is dating Star Trek movie beauty Cynthia Gouw.

Andrew met Cynthia, 39, who is also a respected TV journalist, at a dinner party in San Francisco.

He is said to be "smitten" with her after a string of dates and exchanging dozens of affectionate emails.

The Prince made a bee-line for Cynthia, who played the Romulan Caithlin Dar in Star Trek V - The Final Frontier, after spotting her in a low-cut evening gown.

The former Miss Chinatown USA beauty queen sat next to Andrew, 42, at dinner and the pair were inseparable for the rest of the evening.

Last night Cynthia spoke for the first time of their relationship. She said "He's so old-fashioned and charming. He has a wonderful down- to-earth personality.

"We have now met on a number of occasions here in the US and overseas. I am hoping our friendship will grow.

"We speak often on the telephone and exchange little messages via computer.

"I love it that he is an action man. Who can beat the fact he flies his own helicopter onto his family's Palace lawn?"

Cynthia added with a smile: "He has yet to invite me for tea with the Queen but he's a real pleasure to be with, a lovely man."

Last night a close friend of the newswoman, who has won three Emmy awards for her TV reporting, said: "Andrew is totally smitten and has been bombarding Cynthia with phone calls and e-mails.

"Cynthia doesn't want to say too much about their friendship at this stage but they've met quite a number of times now and enjoyed each other's company.

"It's too early to say what might develop but I know Cynthia has quiet hopes for the future.

"Living so far apart means they don't see each other as often as they'd like but the world is a lot smaller these days."

The Chinese-American beauty has won awards for her investigative reporting.

Since splitting from ex-wife Fergie Andrew has been involved with a string of beauties including model Caprice, actress Lisa B and businesswoman Amanda Stavely.

In August he was spotted cavorting with a group of bikini-clad women in St Tropez.

However, shortly afterwards he went on holiday to Spain with Fergie and their two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.

THE ENTERPRISING CAITHLIN DAR:ROMULAN representative to the Paradise City settlement on planet Nimbus III. Assigned in 2287. An idealistic young woman, Dar believed the colony might still serve as a catalyst for galactic peace despite the failure of the project for the past two decades. Under the mental influence of Sybok, Dar joined Sybok's quest for the mythical planet Sha Ka Ree.

- From the Star Trek Encyclopaedia

Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.