The student Prince was preparing to party that evening with a tipple in mind stronger than the water in his plastic tumbler possibly his current favourite, cider. But before the celebrations began, William agreed to be interviewed as a thank-you to the media for keeping St Andrews a largely "press-free" zone during his first two years at university. The next King-but-one shared his passion for the Fife coastal town where he has the freedom to be plain "Will" or just William. He told how he runs on the sandy beach where the movie Chariots Of Fire was filmed, swims in the sea, and values the genuine friendship of fellow students and townspeople. He is unassuming and relaxed, dressed in baggy beige corduroy jeans, well-worn loafers, blue shirt and a plum-coloured jumper with holes in the right elbow and under the arms. Later, for photographs, he changed into denim jeans. It was a measure of how he is allowed to be himself and live as near an ordinary life as is possible for someone born into his extraordinary situation. "People here just treat me like everyone else - it's really nice," he said. "I'm able to lead a near-normal life because of a combination of reasons really. "The media have been very good considering, I'm sure, how tantalising it is having me up here, and the people of St Andrews and the students themselves have been so supportive. So, basically, I feel very comfortable." "I think it's probably a little harder for tourists and foreigners who come up here to try and pretend, as it were, that they haven't seen me. "I hope I'm not a tourist attraction - I'm sure they come here really because St Andrews is just amazing, a beautiful place." The Prince confirmed that he was moving house next academic year to a more rural setting, although still in the town. William is aware of issues such as student loans and university fees but declines to involve himself actively in student politics. What of William's future? "I really haven't thought much about that," he said. "I'm really just concentrating on getting through the next two years. I honestly haven't thought about what I'm going to do next." | 
News RSS Feed