It was the day the boy who was born to be king opened a new chapter in his life. Accompanied by his father Prince Charles, William Wales – as he wishes to be known – arrived at St Andrews University, where he is to spend the next four years studying for a degree in History of Art.
After attending church at Crathie, near the Balmoral estate, the student prince said goodbye to his grandmother, the Queen, before lunching with his father and the Queen Mother at Birkhall, one of her Scottish residences. Then father and son drove the 90-minutes trip to the Fife town – where Charles overshot the entrance to the university and had to make a quick about turn.
An estimated 5,000 well-wishers had turned out to cheer the 19-year-old fresher on as he embarked on the next stage of his education. Clad in a faded pair of jeans and a dark jersey, William met the university principal Dr Brian Lang, who introduced him to college registrar David Corner, the American president of the Students’ Association Dana Green, and Professor Paul Boyle, the warden of St Salvator’s, where the young prince will be housed.
The day before his higher education debut, William gave an interview to a British newspaper – his first since returning from his gap year. The now more confident prince talked about a myriad subjects, including his latest challenge.
“I just want to go to university and have fun,” said the blue-eyed blond. “I want to be an ordinary student. I’m only going to university. It’s not like I’m getting married – though that’s what it feels like sometimes.” William had a taste of the high esteem in which he is held in Scotland when he visited a Glasgow housing estate on Friday with his father as part of a set of official engagements. “I really enjoyed it,” he commented. “They are welcoming people, the Scots.”
Another of William’s acts was to sign a book of condolences at the US consulate in Edinburgh. Writing “With Deepest Sympathy, love from William,” the future king recounted the moment when he found out about the World Trade Center attacks, after a night out with some friends.
“Suddenly there was panic in the house and everyone was rushing to watch the TV,” he remembered. “I just watched the news and sat there in stunned silence for ages. It was a tragic thing that happened in America and I wanted to let them know they are not forgotten, and that peole do care about them. It was such a serious loss of life.”Then talk turned to his social life. “Weekends at St Andrews, I’ve been told, are not particularly vibrant,” stated William, who will probably drive down to Edinburgh for big nights out. But then he rushed to correct himself. “I’m not a party animal, despite what people might think,” explained William. “But I like to go out sometimes like anyone else.”
There has been some concern that the Prince will be hounded by the press during his sojourn north of the border. In fact, it has been reported that William will leave if his life is made unbearable. “The way the media treated me in my gap year was great and if that could continue, everyone would be happy, especially me. If it does get too intrusive, I will feel really uncomfortable.”
“It would take a lot to really irritate me,” he continued, “but if other people are getting fed up with the fact that I’m causing them to be hassled and are stopping talking to me, I’ll have to think about it all again.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
