The peculiar reason why Kate Middleton and Prince William were almost banned from living together at university

The love story of the Prince and Princess of Wales began when they met during their first year at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where they were both residing in the same halls of residence. As their relationship blossomed, they entered their second year, but there was an unusual situation that nearly prevented them from living together.

During their second year, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, along with two other housemates, wanted to live together. However, their landlord had reservations due to previous issues with male tenants. To resolve this, Catherine took the initiative and secured the house for herself, William, and their two closest friends.

Despite this initial hurdle, the couple eventually lived together in their third and fourth years, residing in a private home off-campus that belonged to one of William’s distant cousins.

After their idyllic years together as students, the royal couple has now been married for 11 years and shares three children, a testament to the enduring love that blossomed during their university days.

During their first year at university, Prince William and Kate Middleton lived in St Salvator’s Halls of Residence, where they became friends. As their relationship blossomed, they decided to rent a house together with two other students for their second year.

The future Prince and Princess of Wales chose to live at 13A Hope Street near the university, sharing the accommodation with Fergus Boyd and Olivia Bleasdale. When Kate went for viewings, she encountered a potential obstacle – the landlord, Charlotte Smith, was initially reluctant to rent to male students due to previous negative experiences.

Smith previously explained, “We’d had an unfortunate experience with some boys in the flat once before and we were determined not to have young men there again. Broken furniture, broken windows – there was a lot of damage, so that put us off really.” However, when Kate revealed that one of the potential tenants was Prince William, Smith and her husband reconsidered and allowed William and Fergus to move in. Smith later described the prince as “very friendly, very charming…thoroughly nice man.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales, during their university years at St Andrews, chose to reside at Balgove House, a spacious private estate located just outside the town. This estate belonged to Henry Cheape, a wealthy landowner and distant cousin of Prince William, who is also a close friend of the Royal Family.

To ensure the safety of the young couple, the rural home was equipped with various security measures. Unmarked police cars patrolled the estate, and the house itself was fortified with a large wall, bomb-proof doors, and windows. Despite these precautions, Kate and William reportedly enjoyed entertaining their friends at the property, even installing a champagne fridge for their gatherings.

Recently, the couple, along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, relocated to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate in September 2022. This move coincided with the young royals’ enrollment at the nearby Lambrook School.

Adelaide Cottage, nestled within the Crown Estate’s private 655-acre royal park, holds a rich historical significance. Constructed in 1831, it served as a retreat for Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV. Notably, it was also a favored residence of Queen Victoria, who frequently enjoyed taking her breakfast there.

In 2015, Adelaide Cottage underwent extensive renovations, resulting in some truly elaborate decorative elements. Reports suggest that the master bedroom boasts an ornate ceiling adorned with gilded dolphins and intricate rope decorations, adding a touch of opulence to the historic cottage.