Eugenie's queen of the 'Castle

Published on Thursday 24 September 2009 22:13

PRINCESS Eugenie joined thousands of freshers yesterday and began her student life.

The Queen's 19-year-old granddaughter smiled as she walked into the Armstrong Building at Newcastle University in front of the cameras, with a blonde friend.

When reporters welcomed her to Newcastle and asked why she chose the university, she replied: "It's a great city."

She walked into a student induction session wearing plimsolls, black tights, a dark dress and a cardigan. She had five wristbands and wore a blue bag with a flower on it over her shoulder.

The inductions are taking place throughout freshers week and offer new students advice on accommodation, finance and welfare, and information about swine flu.

Eugenie will live in 96-a-week halls of residence accommodation alongside other students. She will also be followed by royal protection officers.

The university has proved popular with students from public school backgrounds in recent years, and cut-glass accents are regularly heard in parts of the city along with Geordie voices.

Dan Coverdale, editor of the Courier student newspaper, said: "Maybe she has come up with quite a few friends from her school.

"I think the attraction is that it's a good city up north and it is something different but you do get quite a lot of southern students.

"There is a great social life here but the academic side of it is good too."

Eugenie will take a three-year Combined Studies degree in English Literature, History of Art and Politics.