The Malta Independent on Sunday speaks to Colleen Harris, former press secretary to Princes Charles, William and Harry and official spokesperson at William and Kate's wedding is one of the international public relations (PR) gurus scheduled to be present at the Global PR Summit Malta, the country's most anticipated business, public relations and social media event, taking place from 12-13 April at the InterContinental Hotel.

Colleen held a senior communications position in the Prime Minister's Office before being appointed Press Secretary to the Prince of Wales. She handled the media for the Prince during some of the most turbulent years, and also media-managed the emergence of Princes William and Harry into the public eye. Her career has included senior posts in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Office, as well as in non-departmental public bodies. She has worked in Britain and abroad as a consultant with private companies, non-profit organisations and UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation.

You have worked for the UK government, the British Royal Family and also with the Elton John Aids Foundation. Looking back, what is the most important PR lesson you have learned in your career?

Yes, I have been fortunate to work for some fascinating organisations and also to deal with some challenging issues. PR is not an exact science, so there are no hard and fast rules about the best way to handle things. Every situation is different and the experience you build up over time guides your style and approach. For me, planning is very important and gaining an understanding of your organisation or client is crucial. Analysis and planning are key to developing a good PR plan.

Before joining the Royal Household, you worked for the UK Government and Margaret Thatcher. How did this prepare you for the hard task of managing PR for Prince Charles and Princes William and Harry?

I worked in government communications under both Conservative and Labour governments. I worked in different departments and for many Ministers, including Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Gordon Brown and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, dealing with major matters of state from major transport accidents to health issues such as HIV/AIDS, prison break-outs and race riots, shootings, government leaks and so on. Alongside that, I was involved in managing the personal profile of Ministers during sensitive personal and family issues. I guess all of that prepared me for most things, but working for the RF was still a bit different.

For many in PR, working for the British Royal Family is the ultimate dream job. What was the first thought in your mind when you got the job?

I had several interviews before being offered the post by HRH, and was convinced I was not going to be offered the job. I don't think the penny dropped for several days. I then thought, how am I going to cope with the challenges as a working Mum. I really hadn't thought it all through properly as I didn't think I would really get the job.

You started working for the Prince in some very challenging times, right after Princess Diana's death. Was there ever a moment when you said to yourself: 'I can't do this anymore' or 'it's too challenging for me'?

As a busy working mother with two young boys I had thought that several times. It was a difficult time for me, as the job was challenging and home life was challenging. The media interest in the RF was intense and exhausting, but I was proud to be part of the team handling these difficult issues and developing different strategies to meet everyone's needs.

Why do you think the press and the public gave Prince Charles such a hard time? Do you think that he was maybe vilified by the supporters of the late Princess Diana?

This is a complicated issue that I can't easily answer here. Part of the problem was that the media didn't know all the background - and still don't.

Introducing the young Princes William and Harry to public life must have been a hard task. What were some of the challenges of working with them?

One of the joys of my job was developing strategies to introduce Princes William and Harry to the public. It was an exciting time: Eton, gap years in Chile and Australia, university, landmark birthdays, new friends and interests - they all made for challenging relationships with the media, a public hungry for more information on the young Princes and, of course, dealing with William and Harry and their personal needs. It was fun.

Looking back at your time at the Royal Household, what do you think is your biggest achievement?

Moving the Prince of Wales from a hated and ridiculed public figure to one respected for his charitable work, seen as a supportive father and able to be with the person he loves.

It seems that Kate is the new Princess Diana and the ultimate ambassador of the British Royal Family. Although many praise her for bringing normality to the British Royal Family, others say that the Royal Family has lost its glitter and sparkle? What are your thoughts on this?

I think the Duchess of Cambridge has brought a fresh look to the RF which is proving popular with the public.

In my view, the Royal Family has always modernised and adapted to reflect the times. The Victorians were different to the Edwardians and the Elizabethans are different to the Edwardians. It is right that the Royal Family continues to modernise, otherwise it will become irrelevant and completely out of touch with its public. There is an argument that we lose something of the glitter and sparkle if the Royal Family is 'normal'. Getting the balance right is tricky, but I favour a more modern and relevant Royal Family for the 21st century - a different kind of sparkle that comes from using their position to do important and wonderful things to benefit everyone.

You will be visiting Malta in April to speak at the Global PR Summit Malta. Can you tell us more about your presentation and your expectations from the event?

I'm excited to be coming to Malta. My experience is largely around personal brand management and I will deal with this in my presentation and about some of the tools we can use to develop good PR for our clients.

Lastly, what is the one piece of advice you would give your PR colleagues around the world?

PR is a clever and fascinating profession and even after 30 years in the business I still find it a great thrill. I would say enjoy the challenge, be creative and have fun.

To meet Colleen Harris, along with 15 other PR and social media gurus from Virgin, You Tube, Grayling, the Civil Aviation Authority and the TUI Group, get your ticket now for the Global PR Summit Malta at www.thepworld.com