William and Kate's uni days - awkward meeting, wobble and see-through dress
It could well be a life-changing day for thousands of teenagers as they receive their A-level results - and 23 years ago, the Prince and Princess of Wales were in their shoes.
The couple both received the grades they achieved in their A-levels before both taking gap years and continuing their studies in Scotland at St Andrews University. They wouldn't know it at the time, but their separate decisions to head north of the border for uni would be the most important of their lives.
That's because it was at St Andrews where they met and saw their romance blossom, which has now seen them be married for more than 12 years and have three young children. Here's how their uni days proved to be some of the most pivotal of their lives...
How they got in
Both William and Kate gained excellent A-level grades and both were easily accepted into studying at the university. William left Eton College with an A in geography, a B in art and a C in biology and gained a place on a history of art course.
Kate did even better at her school, Marlborough College, earning As in maths and art, and a B in English - and she too opted to study the history of art. But it appears that it was a last-minute decision that saw her and Wills thrown together.
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Prince William during his time at St Andrews University (UK Press via Getty Images)
Kate also went to St Andrews (AFP via Getty Images)In the book Kate: The Future Queen by royal expert Katie Nicholl, it is revealed that Kate had actually lined up a place at Edinburgh University. Jasper Selwyn, a careers adviser at Kate’s former school, Marlborough College, and Joan Gall her house tutor, confirmed to Ms Nichol that her first choice of university had been Edinburgh.
However, a change of heart saw Kate decide to reject the place and instead take a gap year before applying to go to St Andrews the following year. It was a risky move as she wasn't guaranteed a place at St Andrews - especially as it was then revealed as the university that William would be attending, attracting more applications than usual. However, she later claimed a place to study the history of art and it paved the way for her meeting with her future husband.
First meeting
Upon starting their course in 2001, William and Kate were placed in the same accommodation block, St Salvador's Hall, and they struck up a friendship. And it appears it wasn't exactly love at first sight for the pair - not least for William who once admitted he couldn't remember the first encounter that left Kate red-faced. In an interview to mark their engagement in 2010, the couple was asked about the moment they met.
The couple on a trip back to St Andrews several years ago (Getty Images)Kate was able to recall the moment straight away, but William struggled to remember and said he'd have to "wrack his brains". And Kate added: "I actually went bright red when I met you and scuttled off feeling very shy about meeting you.
"William wasn't there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn't there from Fresher's Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other. But we did become very close friends from quite early on."
Will's wobble
While at university, William did everything he could to have a normal student experience, even giving himself the unusual nickname of Steve. There was also an agreement between the palace and the media to leave the prince in peace as he studied.
But according to royal author Robert Lacey, uni life in the small Scottish seaside was not what the future king had expected. In his book, Battle of Brothers, he explains that the highlights for William were "shopping in the local Tesco " while nights out were "clouded" because all the other students were fascinated by him. Lacey also claims that the prince wasn't enjoying his course.
Prince William hard at work in the main library at St Andrews University (Corbis via Getty Images)When William came back to London for the Christmas holidays in 2001, the book claims he told his dad Charles, he wanted to quit. Charles' spin doctor at the time, Mark Bolland, told Lacey: "It was no different from what many first-year students go through. We approached the whole thing as a wobble, which was entirely normal."
That Christmas, the now King sat down to have a heart-to-heart with his son and persuaded him to stay at St Andrews - but switch his course to geography. William agreed and the rest they say is history, not least because around this time is when his romance with Kate began to blossom.
Budding romance
It was in 2002 when Kate really captured the 19-year-old Prince’s attention after he spent £200 for a front-row ticket for the charity fashion show Kate featured in. Here he saw his future wife walking the catwalk in a see-through lace dress revealing her black underwear underneath.
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Kate is said to have made the transformation from William's friend to his love interest after he saw her in the fashion show and said: "Wow, Kate's hot." During their second year at university, they shared a four-bedroom Edwardian townhouse with two other friends, despite Kate dating fellow student Rupert Finch at the time.
The couple after their graduation in 2005 (Clarence House via GettyImages)The following year the four roommates moved into a secluded rented cottage just outside of the town. Kate later attended William’s exclusive 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle along with his closest friends. It was rumoured in Christmas 2003 they had become an item after spending more time with each other, playing sports and enjoying outdoor life.
In fact, Kate once let slip that her future husband tried to impress her by cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Appearing on a one-off BBC cooking show with Mary Berry, Kate explained: "In our university days he used to cook all sorts of meals - I think that was when he was trying to impress me, Mary. Things like Bolognese, sauces and things like that." But she added: "William has to put up with my cooking most of the time now," before her husband replied: "It’s the reason I’m so skinny!"
Family graduation
However, their romance could certainly not be denied by the time they came to graduate from the university in 2005. They both officially received their degrees in the same ceremony in front of some very special guests.
Kate had her parents Carole and Michael there while William had his father Charles as well as his grandparents, the late Queen and Prince Philip. The ceremony capped off a special four years for the couple - although it wasn't all plain sailing after this.
Following their graduation, William joined the military and they went through a rocky patch, which actually saw them split in 2007. But they soon rekindled their relationship before becoming engaged in 2010 and marrying in 2011. They welcomed their first child Prince George in July 2013 before Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis later came along.
Nostalgic return
William and Kate have visited the Fife university town several times since their graduation - most notably back in 2021. After a day of royal engagements in St Andrews, they ventured to Forgan’s, a contemporary restaurant with a Scottish twist.
The couple asked for a private seating area at the back of the eatery that has welcomed famous golfing celebrities like Rory McIlroy. The manager of the restaurant said: "There was no pomp and ceremony or fanfare, they were very nice and when they left they were very complimentary."
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