Town tees up for prince

The prince is heading for the town

St Andrews is known around the world for its reputation as the home of golf.

Its residents are well accustomed to journalists, television crews and photographers.

But if this Fife community thought it was in the limelight before, a new sensation will descend on it in the autumn of 2001.

The decision by Prince William - just plain William as he wants to be known - to accept a place at St Andrews University will see the return of monarchy to the ancient institution.

He won't get any peace because he'll attract so much attention and all my mates would probably be trying to chat him up the whole time

Student Jennifer Munro

Founded in 1411 by Bishop Henry Wardlaw, King James VI also studied there.

Other, rather more recent students include the leader of the Scottish National Party, Alex Salmond.

"It will assist St Andrews' international reputation - it's a lovely town, a lovely university and a sensible choice for Prince William," was his opinion.

"The only thing the university will have to watch is that it has a reputation for having a high percentage of privileged people among its students.

Alex Salmond: "Play some golf"

"It will have to reinforce its efforts to make sure Scotland's oldest university is seen as a people's university, not just for the privileged.

"My advice to him would be to attend to his studies, play a bit of golf and enjoy the social life to the full."

Should he wish to, William will have plenty opportunity to do just that in St Andrews, where there are 22 pubs and more hostelries per square mile than any other university in the country.

Paul Brown, 21, manager of the fashionable Doll's House Restaurant, said: "We're used to serving royalty. We once had Princess Anne in, so hopefully she'll recommend us."

Tiger Woods is no stranger to St Andrews

Vicki Blackley, 25, manageress of the new La Posada Mexican restaurant, said: "Students here have a lot more money than anywhere else, which definitely works in our favour, especially with Prince William."

How do other students feel about having royalty in their midst?

Jennifer Munro, 19, a second year history student from Glasgow, said: "It is pretty secure here and it should be pretty easy for his bodyguards to keep an eye on him, even though security would be a problem wherever he went really.

"He is extremely good-looking but to be honest I don't think it will be such a great thing having him here because he's fit to such an extent that everyone will be trying to grab hold of him when he's on a night out.

"Prince William is certainly welcome to come out with me and my group of friends.

The prince is "extremely good looking"

"But he won't get any peace because he'll attract so much attention and all my mates would probably be trying to chat him up the whole time."

The history of art course itself offers a wide range of courses that aim to be "visually stimulating and intellectually challenging", according to the university.

Paintings, sculpture, architecture, the graphic and applied arts are all considered in their historical context to enable students to understand their creation.

William will be expected to look extensively and critically at works of art, both in reproduction and in the original, and there will be mandatory visits to the galleries and monuments of Scotland.