When Charles was left ‘incandescent’ with rage: Prince William’s university privacy was punctured by crew from Edward’s TV production firm… leading to brotherly bust-up
It was the only place where he had some privacy and could be ‘normal’.
During Prince William’s time at university in Scotland, it was agreed that the media would leave him alone.
He consented to some photographs and interaction – including when he first arrived in St Andrews in September 2001 – but otherwise he was expected to stay out of the public eye.
Until a television company founded by William’s uncle, Prince Edward, intervened in the new student’s life just days after he started his studies at St Andrews.
Ardent Productions had set up their cameras at the Scottish university and apparently attempted to film William as he left the 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 Lacey was confronted by the university’s press officer, Niall Scott, she wrote how the production crew responded: ‘We are Ardent – here’s our map. We are making an A-Z of royalties for an entertainment channel in the US and we are waiting to film William coming out of his lecture.’
According to Lacey, they insisted they had Edward’s permission to be there, and King Charles was reportedly ‘glowing’ when he discovered what had happened.
Prince Edward was the founder of Ardent Productions, a television company that installed cameras at St Andrews University shortly after Prince William began his studies
Prince William had an agreement with the media to give him privacy while he studied at the Scottish university
The 19-year-old prince with his father, Prince Charles, during a visit to a training centre in Glasgow shortly before he started university in 2001.
The Daily Mail reported at the time that Ardent claimed her crew had not filmed William.
In a statement released the day after the incident by the company’s chairman, Malcolm Cockren, it said they had made arrangements three weeks before the filming “with the full knowledge and cooperation of the university’s press office.”
It also said: ‘Ardent Productions fully supports the restrictions on filming Prince William at St Andrews University and at no time 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 invited ten students to a restaurant, where they were filmed and questioned about Prince William.
Edward and his wife Sophie are said to have personally apologized to Charles for the incident afterwards.
The then Prince of Wales was reportedly so furious that he refused to take Edward’s phone calls for hours.
Prince Edward talks to Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2003
A statement released by the company’s chairman, Malcolm Cockren, the day after the incident said they had made arrangements “with the full knowledge and cooperation of the university’s press office” three weeks before the filming.
Charles and William greeted the crowds upon the young prince’s arrival at St Andrews in 2001
Prince William shakes hands with people in the crowd outside St Andrews University
It was previously announced that Ardent would stop making television programmes about the royals, the Daily Mail reported.
At the time, the company had made 22 shows, half of which were about the royal family, including a documentary about the restoration of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992.
On another occasion, Edward investigated his great-uncle, the disgraced King Edward VIII.
In 2002, Edward stepped down as joint managing director of Ardent and Sophie left her public relations agency, with both becoming full-time working royals.
Although Edward remained as a non-executive director of Ardent, the company went into voluntary liquidation in 2009 with just £40.27 on its books
The Mail reported in 2010 that investors had previously put £2.2 million into the television production company.
William, pictured at university, started out studying art history before switching to geography
William agreed to some photos and interaction with the press, including when he first arrived in St Andrews
A front page of the Daily Mail after Charles and Edward’s disagreement over the film situation
It was later announced that Ardent would stop making television programmes about the royals, the Daily Mail previously reported.