It was the only place where he had some privacy and was allowed to be “normal.”
During Prince William’s time at university in Scotland, it was agreed that the media would leave him alone.
She agreed to take some photographs and interact with him, even when he first arrived at St Andrews in September 2001, but was otherwise supposed to stay out of the public eye.
That was until a television company founded by William’s uncle, Prince Edward, burst into the new student’s life just days after he began his degree at St Andrews.
Ardent Productions had set up cameras at the Scottish university and were apparently trying to film William leaving a lecture hall.
Historian Robert Lacey wrote about the saga in his 2020 book Battle of the Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult.
When confronted by the university’s press officer, Niall Scott, Lacey wrote how the production team responded: “We’re Ardent, here’s our card. We’re doing an A-Z version of royalty for an entertainment channel in the US and we’re waiting to film William leaving his lecture.”
They insisted they had Edward’s permission to be there, according to Lacey, and King Charles is said to have been “incandescent” when he discovered what had happened.
Prince Edward was the founder of Ardent Productions, a television company that installed cameras at the University of St Andrews shortly after Prince William began his studies.
Prince William had a privacy agreement with the media during his time at the Scottish university.
The 19-year-old prince with his father, Prince Charles, during a visit to a school in Glasgow shortly before starting university in 2001.
The Daily Mail reported at the time that Ardent had claimed her crew had not filmed William.
A statement issued by company president Malcolm Cockren the day after the incident said it had been organised “with the full knowledge and cooperation of the University press office” three weeks before filming.
It also said: ‘Ardent Productions fully supports the restrictions on filming of Prince William at the University of St Andrews and at no point did the crew attempt to film Prince William, gain unauthorised access or film on campus.
“Prince William was completely unaware of the incident.”
At the time it was also reported that Ardent had also invited ten students to a restaurant, where they were filmed and questioned about Prince William.
Edward and his wife Sophie reportedly personally apologized to Charles for the incident afterwards.
The then Prince of Wales is said to have been so furious that he refused to take Edward’s calls for several hours.
Prince Edward speaking to Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2003
A statement issued by company president Malcolm Cockren the day after the incident said they had arranged “with the full knowledge and cooperation of the University press office” three weeks before filming.
Charles and William wave to the crowd upon the young prince’s arrival at St. Andrews in 2001
Prince William shakes hands with people in the crowd outside the University of St Andrews
Ardent has announced it will stop making royal TV shows, the Daily Mail previously reported.
By that time, the company had produced 22 shows, half of which were about royalty, including a documentary about the restoration of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire.
Another saw Edward examine his great-uncle, the disgraced King Edward VIII.
In 2002, Edward stepped down as deputy chief executive of Ardent and Sophie left her PR firm. Both became full-time working royals.
Although Edward remained a non-executive director of Ardent, the company entered voluntary liquidation in 2009 with just £40.27 on its books.
In 2010, the Mail reported that investors had previously invested £2.2m in the television production company.
William, pictured at university, began studying for a BA in Art History before switching to Geography.
William agreed to take some photos and interact with the press, even when he first arrived at St Andrews.
A Daily Mail front page following the disagreement between Charles and Edward over the filming situation
It was later announced that Ardent would stop making TV shows about the royals, the Daily Mail previously reported.
