The Ups and Downs of 18th Birthday Celebrations

By John Smithbirthday gifts. While footballer Wayne Rooney
As well as giving 18th birthday gifts, it's traditionalcelebrated his big day by signing a five-year
to mark the occasion with a special celebration. Ifcontract worth £25,000 a week, his girlfriend
you're stuck for ideas, you might be able to takeColleen McCoughlin's 18th birthday party wasn't as
some tips from the stars. As you'll see, everyoneglamorous as you might imagine. Years before her
has a different way to celebrate though a fortunefairytale wedding, she held her celebrations at a
isn't always a guarantee that things will go well!local hotel with sandwiches and sausage rolls. It
Harry Potter star Emma Watson celebrated herwasn't on the cheap though, with reports that
big day by staying up until 4.30am after a lavish£10,000 was put behind the bar. That could be
lunch with fellow cast members. She may havecould be why the event ended in scuffles! It's not
had some wonderful 18th birthday gifts, but theyjust celebs whose 18th birthday gifts include
would have paled in comparison to something elsemisery, however. Just look at Sara Ruscoe, a
she got for the first time that day: access to theschoolgirl who made the mistake of putting up a
£10.5 million that she'd earned and had been heldposter inviting the entire sixth form to her house
in a trust fund. Charlotte Church also got herparty. As Sara lived in a mansion, that might have
hands on her fortune when she came of age,seemed manageable. The problem was that a
which may have been some comfort when hermischief-maker persuaded Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong
18th birthday gifts didn't include one thing she'dto give a shoutout to partygoers, mentioning the
jokingly asked for: a million-pound ruby-studdedevent was at a mansion in the small Devon town
bra. She celebrated with a quiet buffet for friendsof Bovey Tracey. That's all it took for 2,000
and family, but still made the headlines whenyouths to gatecrash in riotous mood, causing at
photographed the worse for wear. Not only wereleast £2,000 worth of damage. She's not the
Prince Harry 18th birthday gifts kept low-profile,only school pupil to get into trouble on her 18th
but he opted to forgo a lavish birthday celebration.though. Eleven sixth-formers from a Somerset
Newspapers had talked of a wild booze and birdsboarding school run by Benedictine monks had to
bash, but instead he spent the day on charitybe suspended after a party got completely out of
work, visiting hospital patients and homelesshand. Not only were school displays damaged and
people as well as working on schemes to helpthrown in a skip, but the staff room carpet was
young offenders and improve health standards insmeared with dog mess. To be fair, most people
the third world. That's pretty much the oppositedon't behave in such a manner on their birthday
approach from Maria Sharapova. The tennisand it's perfectly possible to celebrate with a drink
superstar's 18th birthday gifts actually included aresponsibly. Indeed, you can always mark the
party sponsored by mobile phone firm Motorola,occasion with a 'grown-up' drink such as a vintage
with the company's logo even appearing onwhisky. American teenagers don't make such as
bottles of water. Around 700 people turned up tobig fuss about turning 18: probably because they
the Manhattan shindig, which included a livecan't legally drink until 21, meaning traditional 18th
performance by pop band Maroon 5. Princessbirthday gifts such as champagne are a no-no.
Beatrice had a ball literally. Having been born on 8Then again, some children more than make up for
8/88, she opted for an 1888-themed party atit with earlier birthdays, as viewers of MTV's My
Windsor Castle. Guests wore period dress, thoughSuper Sweet Sixteen can confirm! There is one
it's not known how many Royals simply woregroup of people for whom 18th birthday gifts
family hand-me-downs! Beatrice's 18th birthdaymust be chosen with a little more thought. That's
gifts included a blue and gold ballgown from thebecause they were born on February 29th and
exclusive Marchesa label. Many parents will get outtechnically don't celebrate their big day until
the cameras for their child's 18th, but in Kellythey've been around for 72 years. Then again,
Osbourne's case, the cameras were already there:everyone's different, so there's no reason a
she was being filmed for the reality TV seriesleap-year birthday boy or girl shouldn't go
The Osbournes. Father Ozzy took her to Vegaspaintballing or drive a Lamborghini with the rest of
(where he was performing) and his present of athem!
1958 Chevvy was the most lavish of her 18th