News
Prince William gives an interview in the first term of his final year at university - Part 2
22nd November 2004
Interview by Laura Elston for the Press Association
Prince William is hoping to get a 2:1 in his degree - providing he gets his dissertation in on time.
He has just a few weeks to finish writing 10,000 words on his chosen research topic - the coral reefs of Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean, where he holidayed last summer.
“I'm working on it. It's basically just to do with the pressures of fishing on the island,” William said.
“I’ve done 1,500 words and I'm struggling already. It's got to be in at the beginning of December. I will get it done definitely.”
He added: “It's where I was on holiday last summer. It's my clever ploy to incorporate holiday into a dissertation.”
He continued: “I also had some contacts out there who had done lots of studies before so I knew there was data that was years and years old so I could compare and contrast the data. It's a really nice place to be.”
In June, William went on a field trip to Norway to see the Jostedalen ice cap – the largest in mainland Europe.
“They are incredibly huge and they tower above you. They look very intimidating. They're dark blue and white and there are cracks everywhere,” he said.
He and a small group of students stayed in log cabins and carried out work to assess the effects of climate change on the ice cap. William returned home early for the funeral of his grandmother, Frances Shand Kydd.
Dr Charles Warren, who lectures William on glaciers, said: “From my perspective he's done a fantastic job of fitting in and pulling his weight and living an ordinary student life.”
He added: “He's one of the crowd.”
The final year of William's geography MA counts for half of his final mark, with the other half completed during his third year.
“I've done 50 per cent already. Hopefully that will keep me on a reasonably good grade. I'm based on a 2:1. The amount of bribing I've done it should work,” William joked.
While his written workload has increased this year, the number of lectures has gone down to about seven a week.
Two exams at the end of January are also looming and William will be spending Christmas familiarising himself with the ins and outs of glacial processes and applied bio-geography.
Like many other students, Prince William has dealt with the trials and tribulations of university life - the ever-growing piles of washing up and the queues at Tesco.
William admitted washing up was a major sticking point in the house he shares with three others - although they have now found a solution.
“Thankfully we've just got a dishwasher,” he said. “But before it was a complete disaster.
“There would be piles and piles left in the sink and one of us would come back in and immediately walk out when they saw it.
“It would just get bigger and bigger. It would never get done. The amount of arguments about washing up and cleaning or whatever...
“It still goes on but it's better now. Again it's the dynamics of living with people. When you all live together you've got to muck in and help out.”
He spoke of enjoying having “lots of independence and responsibilities”,
adding: “Actually trying to turn up to lectures is one.”
William, who does all his own food shopping, added: “I’ve spent hours in the queues at Tesco's. I haven't got to grips with the self service.”
“I've had lots of kids come up and ask for my autograph, I've had a grandmother stop me and ask me if I know any good place to buy underwear.”
He denied he was able to help, saying: “Actually I don't ... I was a little bit stumped as to what to say on that one.”
William was proposed to as he walked through St Andrews by a teenage girl who ran up, handed him a note and scurried off.
“Very sweet of her to ask me but I had to decline sadly,” he said.