Fellow students became so used to Prince William’s presence at St Andrews University they almost forgot who he was, according to one of his lecturers.
The heir to the throne spent four years at the Fife university, where he met his fiancee and gained a 2:1 honours degree in geography.
During William’s student days his privacy was famously well respected by the media, townspeople and other students.
While there was excitement at his arrival, senior geography lecturer Dr Charles Warren said students soon became accustomed to their royal classmate.
Although he met him in his first week at the university, it was not until William’s third year that Dr Warren got to know him.
He said, “By that stage his fellow students had gotten completely used to him. Inevitably, in the first few weeks it was a bit of a moment to have Prince William on our doorstep.
“Both students and staff were inevitably aware. But by third year he was one of the crowd.
“People had almost forgotten who he was. Of course, you don’t, but they were treating him like any other student.”
The prince had several meetings with Dr Warren during the second half of his studies, when he planned a dissertation in the doctor’s field of expertise.
Between his third and fourth year they and other students spent a week on a field trip in Norway, camping in a remote region near the ice caps.
Dr Warren said the prince fitted in brilliantly with his fellow students.
He said, “I warmed to him. He was very natural and understated. He didn’t push himself forward he was very keen to ensure that his presence didn’t disrupt things.
“He was just a good, regular guy.”
Dr Warren learned that the prince was coming to St Andrews through the media.
He said, “It’s not every day you get to teach the future king. We all sat up and took notice, but in another sense he was simply going to be another student.
“We didn’t deviate from the way we were operating and carried on as normal.”
William and Kate made it clear during their return to St Andrews on an official visit in February, when Dr Warren was reunited with his former student, that they had happy memories of the university.
Dr Warren said, “Clearly, this wasn’t just a place to come and get a degree-this was a place where he formed relationships and had a great time.
“He probably had as normal a student experience here as he could have had anywhere.”
“He probably had as much freedom here as he had at any stage in his life and that must have been greatly valued.”
Dr Warren will celebrate the royal wedding at the party in St Salvator’s Quadrangle on Friday.