Prince William’s hilarious attempt to stay under the radar at university

During his time at St Andrews University in Edinburgh, Prince William made a comically futile attempt to conceal his identity, according to a royal biographer.

Despite being one of the most recognizable figures globally, Prince William reportedly tried to go incognito at one point. Even though many would instantly recognize him, the young royal sought a period of normalcy during his university years. At St Andrews, William, who wanted to experience life as an ordinary student, employed a rather humorous strategy to mask his true identity.

Though it was expected that he would follow in his father, now King Charles, and attend Trinity College in Cambridge, William chose to study farther afield. He explained his choice by saying, “I didn’t want to go to an English university because I had lived there and wanted a change. I also knew I would be seeing a lot of Wales in the future, and I love Scotland. There’s plenty of space, and I love the hills and mountains. I thought St Andrews had a genuine community feel.”

Royal biographer Robert Jobson reveals in his new book, “Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography,” that in 2001, William began his undergraduate studies at St Andrews under the alias ‘Steve’ in a rather feeble attempt to avoid recognition. It’s even suggested that his future wife, Kate Middleton, might have used the same pseudonym. According to the Scottish Sun, William used the alias to have a more “normal” student experience and hoped it would help him avoid drawing attention.

Jobson also notes that William was cautious about making friends, wary of those who might exploit his status. He said, “At St Andrews, he was careful about who he let into his circle. ‘I quickly spot people who try to take advantage of me and soon distance myself from them. I’m not foolish,’ he remarked.”

This is not the only instance where William has reportedly used an alias to evade attention. Royal author Andrew Morton claimed in his book “William and Catherine” that during a rocky period in their relationship, William and Kate used fake names, Martin and Rose Middleton, while on a romantic getaway to the Seychelles.