Very few of us need reminding that the Prince and Princess of Wales' love story began at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. The couple met during their first year when they were both living at St Salvator's Halls of Residence and would go on to move in together.
While the pair have now been married for 12 years and share three children, their first years together sound idyllic. The couple lived with two other housemates in the second year of their studies but ultimately made a home together for their final two years in a private home that belonged to one of William's cousins.
However, the pair almost didn't get to live together at all in their second year due to a problem that their landlord had with previous male tenants. After hearing that there may be a problem, Kate stepped in to secure the house for herself, William and two of their closest friends.
During their first year of their studies, both Prince William and Katemoved into St Salvator's Halls of Residence and quickly became friends. Their budding relationship prompted the pair to rent a home together with two other students for their second-year.
The future Prince and Princess of Wales decided to live at 13A Hope Street near the university with two friends, Fergus Boyd and Olivia Bleasdale. When Kate went for the viewings she soon heard that there may be an obstacle blocking her from living with William.
The landlord, Charlotte Smith, previously explained to ivillage.co.uk : "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.
"I said to this young lady we’d really rather not have more boys and she said, "What if I were to tell you that it was Prince William?" After some consideration, Smith and her husband relented and allowed William and Fergus to move in. She later described the prince as "very friendly, very charming…thoroughly nice man."
The young couple chose to move to Balgove House at Strathtyrum for their third and fourth years at university. It was a sprawling private estate located just outside of St Andrews. The estate is owned by wealthy landowner Henry Cheape, a distant cousin of Prince William and a close friend of the Royal Family.
The rural home was made safe for the young couple to live in as unmarked police cars patrolled the estate and the house itself was set behind a large wall and had bomb-proof doors and windows.
Despite the various security precautions, Kate and William reportedly loved to entertain their many friends at the property – so much so that they installed a champagne fridge!
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