Prince William, the future King, sought a taste of normal university life after his gap year. From 2001 to 2005, he studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, initially pursuing Art History before switching to Geography. There, he met Catherine, Princess of Wales. To stay under the radar, William reportedly adopted the alias ‘Steve’ throughout his studies.
Protecting Privacy at St Andrews
The university implemented strict measures to shield William’s privacy. A deal with the British press, negotiated by Andrew Neil, the Lord Rector, allowed one photo opportunity per semester in exchange for no paparazzi shots or intrusive coverage. This arrangement largely succeeded.
Dr. Brian Lang, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the time, addressed the student body early on. He warned them to respect everyone’s privacy, not just William’s. In an interview with the student newspaper, Lang stated, “We would take a very, very dim view of any inappropriate information being passed on. Not just about William, but about any other student.”
Lang emphasized that privacy protections extended to all students and staff. After William left, a newspaper editor praised the student body’s discipline, noting their remarkable restraint in withholding information.
William’s Commitment to Family Privacy
William continues to champion privacy, prioritizing it for his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. In a recent appearance on The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, he discussed press intrusion.
William said, “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.” He added a caveat: “I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I had to grow up with—and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
Reflecting on his parents’ experiences, he continued, “Growing up, I saw that with my parents. And if you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family. And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is and those who overstep it, you know I’ll fight against.”
