Every September, thousands of young adults pack up their most prized possessions and embark on their next step: college.
Twenty-three years ago, it was Prince William’s turn to do exactly that on his first day in St Andrews, Scotland.
The Palace had reached an agreement with the media to give William privacy while he studied, in addition to agreed photo opportunities.
One such occasion was his arrival for the start of the semester with his father, King Charles, then Prince of Wales.
William’s student life began with a minor setback: Charles, who was driving, missed the entrance to the university at the start and had to reverse in front of 5,000 spectators, the Daily Mail reported at the time.
Twenty-three years ago, Prince William, then aged 19, arrived for his first day of university. He was accompanied by his father, King Charles, who was then Prince of Wales.
Prince William originally enrolled to study art history at the Scottish university.
William’s student life began with a minor setback: Charles, who was driving, missed the entrance to the university at the start and had to reverse in front of the 5,000 spectators, the Daily Mail reported at the time.
While Charles wore a blazer, chinos, a shirt and a tie, William chose a simple jumper and shirt ensemble, which he paired with jeans.
Before disappearing into the relative privacy of college life, he took time to chat with some of the royal fans who had turned out to see him.
William originally enrolled to study art history and his course fees (£1,075 a term) were paid by Charles “for at least the first year”, the Mail reported, despite William’s offer to cover them himself.
His student accommodation consisted of a small room in St Salvator’s Hall, a housing block nicknamed ‘Sallies’ by students, and he brought bedding, a television and a stereo to equip it.
William had specifically requested a room without a private bathroom so he could enjoy the full student experience of queuing for communal showers.
The father and son were greeted by 5,000 royal fans waiting to see them.
Prince William at St. Salvator’s, his first-year college residence, in November 2004
Prince William studying in the main library at St Andrews in 2004
She had been offered a place to stay at the residence of the director, Dr. Brian Lang, but turned it down.
Charles’s suggestion to rent a private house was also rejected.
Instead, a nearby room was reserved for a police bodyguard, which had a specially installed bathroom.
However, William was very aware of the impact he had on people and was eager to make genuine friends.
The young prince said in an interview at the time: “People who try to take advantage of me and get something out of me, I quickly detect them and soon leave them behind.”
She added: “I just hope I can meet people I get along with. I don’t care where they come from.”
However, William’s first term at St Andrews got off to a difficult start.
The prince playing in a rugby tournament during his final year at university in 2005
William met Kate Middleton, whom he would later marry, at university. The couple is pictured here on their graduation day in 2005
Prince William walking in his graduation gown alongside Charles and Camilla in June 2005
He returned home to Highgrove for Christmas and spent most weekends during term time there or in London.
According to royal expert Robert Lacey in his 2020 book Battle of Brothers, William expressed his doubts to his father over the holidays about his choice of course and institution and told him how he wanted to move,
His grandfather, Prince Philip, is reported to have replied: “William needs to get his act together and not be scared.”
She found life in the small Scottish town to be peaceful and the highlights of her week were shopping at Tesco and playing sports on Wednesdays.
Kensington Palace and St Andrews managed to resolve the problem by contacting each other and agreed that William would change his degree to Geography.
Charles spent the Christmas break having a heart-to-heart with William, who ultimately decided not to move.
William later said he felt more intimidated than nostalgic.
She said at the time: ‘My father was very understanding and realised that I probably had the same problem he had had.
Kate chats with friends as she watches William play rugby at college in 2005
The Daily Mail’s coverage of William on his first day at St Andrews in 2001
‘We talked a lot and in the end we both realized – I definitely realized – that I had to come back.
‘I think it was the new environment. When I was at Raleigh International in Chile during my sabbatical, it was the same. You’re thrown into completely new territory.
“I don’t think I was homesick. I was more intimidated.”
The decision paid off, as it was at St. Andrews that William met and fell in love with Kate Middleton.
It was at a charity fashion show in St Andrews where William exclaimed: “Wow! Kate looks so hot,” as his future wife walked down the catwalk in a sheer dress.
