Every September, thousands of young adults pack up their most precious belongings and embark on their next step: college.
Today, 23 years ago, it was Prince William’s turn to do just that on his first day in St. Andrews in Scotland.
The palace had made a deal with the media to give Willem privacy while he studied, apart from the agreed photo opportunities.
One such occasion was when he arrived with his father, King Charles, then Prince of Wales, at the start of his term of office.
Williams’ student life began with a minor accident: Charles, who was driving, initially missed the university entrance and had to reverse in front of 5,000 bystanders, the Daily Mail reported at the time.
Today, 23 years ago, Prince William, then 19, arrived for his first day at university. He appeared with his father King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales
Prince William originally enrolled to study art history at the Scottish university
Williams’ student life began with a minor accident: Charles, who was driving, was the first to miss the university entrance and had to reverse in front of 5,000 spectators, the Daily Mail reported at the time.
While Charles was dressed in a blazer, chinos and a shirt and tie, William opted for an understated sweater and shirt combo, which he paired with jeans.
Before retreating to the relative seclusion of university life, he took time to chat with some of the royal fans who had come in large numbers to see him.
William had originally enrolled to study art history and the course fees – £1,075 per term – were paid by Charles, ‘at least for the first year’, the Mail reported, despite William’s offer to pay for it himself.
His student accommodation was a small room in St Salvator’s Hall, a block of flats known to students as ‘Sallies’. He had brought bedding, a television and a stereo with him to furnish the room.
William specifically requested a room without a private bathroom so he could have the same student experience of queuing for the communal showers.
The father and son were greeted by 5,000 royal fans hoping to catch a glimpse of them
Prince William at St Salvator’s, his first-year student accommodation, in November 2004
Prince William studies in the main library at St Andrews in 2004
He was offered a place to stay with school principal Dr. Brian Lang, but he declined the offer.
Charles’ proposal to rent a private residence was also rejected.
Instead, a nearby room was reserved for a police bodyguard, who had a bathroom specially installed.
However, William was very aware that he had a great impact on people and was keen to make real friends.
The young prince said in an interview around that time: ‘People who try to take advantage of me and want to get a piece of me, I quickly see through and get away from them.’
He added: ‘I just hope I can meet people I can get along with. I don’t care what their background is.’
However, Williams’ first term at St Andrews got off to a rocky start.
The prince plays in a rugby tournament in 2005 during his final year at university
William met Kate Middleton, whom he later married, at university. The couple are pictured on their graduation day in 2005
Prince William walks in his graduation gown with Charles and Camilla in June 2005
He returned to Highgrove for Christmas and spent most weekends during the school term 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 college and institution and told him how he wanted to move,
His grandfather, Prince Philip, is said to have responded: ‘William must make an effort and not be complacent.’
He found life in the small Scottish town peaceful, the highlight of the week being shopping at Tesco and playing sports on Wednesday.
Kensington Palace and St Andrews reached a solution through consultation and decided that William would change his major and study geography.
Charles spent the Christmas holidays having a heart-to-heart with William, who ultimately decided not to move.
William later said he felt more “disheartened” than homesick.
He said at the time: ‘My father was very understanding and realised that I probably had the same problem as he did.’
Kate chats with her friends as she watches William play rugby at university in 2005
The Daily Mail’s coverage of William on his first day at St Andrews in 2001
“We talked a lot and eventually we both realized – and I absolutely realized – that I had to come back.
“I think it was the new environment. When I was in Chile on my gap year at Raleigh International, it was the same. You’re thrown into completely new territory.
“I don’t think I was homesick. I was more discouraged.”
That decision paid off: at St. Andrews, William met Kate Middleton and fell in love with her.
It was at a charity fashion show in St Andrews where William exclaimed: ‘Wow! Kate is hot’, as his future wife walked the catwalk in a sheer dress.