William and Kate return to St Andrews for university's 600th anniversary celebrations

Published on Friday 25 February 2011 10:46

PRINCE William and Kate Middleton returned today to St Andrews to launch its university's 600th anniversary celebrations.

The couple shook hands with dignitaries as they arrived at the university.

Miss Middleton was dressed in a red coat with a black belt and black leather gloves, while William wore a dark blue suit.

The 28-year-old Prince and his 29-year-old fiancee, who became engaged in October while on holiday in Kenya, emerged from their Range Rover to be greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Fife, Margaret Dean.

Other VIPs in the seven-strong welcoming party were Norma Graham, the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary, university principal Professor Louise Richardson, and Sir Menzies Campbell MP in his role as chancellor of the university.

• In pictures: William and Kate return to St Andrews

A reception inside the principal's residence, University House, was the first stop for the couple as they began their two-hour visit to the university, which was founded in the 15th century.

The former students were guests of honour today.

Addressing the crowd of students and staff gathered in St Salvator's Quad, William said: "Fellow alumni and undergraduates at St Andrews, I feel we have a pretty good chance of recreating raisin Sunday just now.

"This is a very special moment for Catherine and me, it feels like coming home.

"Despite being one of Europe's leading research institutions, the third-oldest university in the English speaking world, and of course far and away the best university in the world, St Andrews still has that uncanny knack of feeling like home and so it must have done for generations of undergraduates before us."

The official visit was William's first in his role as patron of the 600th Anniversary Appeal, which will have a large focus on generating new funds for scholarships.

Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is the third oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Teaching began in 1410 and the university was formally constituted by a series of papal bulls issued by Pope Benedict XIII in 1413.

William and his fiancee began dating while sharing a house in the picturesque seaside town, and almost 10 years later will wed at Westminster Abbey on April 29 as the world watches.

Today's visit is the couple's first official engagement in Scotland.

• Makeover for Miss Middleton

Earlier, the couple's visit took them to the university's museum, where they viewed the surviving papal bull.

Led by museum director Professor Ian Carradine, they viewed two galleries in total.

The papal bull was housed in the first gallery on the subject of the foundation and early history of the university.

There, they also viewed various early treasures of the colleges from the medieval period.

In the second gallery, the couple learned about student life at the university over the last 600 years.

Prof Carradine said: "It's a wonderful occasion and it's so nice that they are now part of the story of the museum."

After making the speech in the university quadrangle, William, along with Miss Middleton, greeted members of the public who had waited for hours in the wind and rain for a glimpse of the couple.

William shook hands and chatted with a number of local primary school children while Kate talked to students and local residents.

The couple looked relaxed as they made their way along the barrier which held back the crowds.

They then left in the black Range Rover which travelled along North Street. People cheered and clapped as it drove past.