Royal alumni in St Andrews appeal

Nov 8 2012

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remembered the first time they met at a lavish fundraising dinner for the University of St Andrews.

The royal couple were supporting the University's 600th Anniversary Appeal which aims to provide financial support for able students who would not otherwise be able to study at St Andrews.

The couple arrived to the sound of bagpipes at Middle Temple - one of the ancient Inns of Court in central London - where the Duke is an honorary barrister and member of the institution's governing body.

Kate dazzled in the same floor-length black Alice Temperley dress she wore to the premiere of War Horse with a red clutch bag to match her sparkling red poppy.

The couple met a selection of current students, staff and alumni of the university during a reception before dinner.

William is patron of the campaign which he launched in February last year during a visit to St Andrews with Kate.

Addressing students, lecturers and alumni, he said: "Tonight is very special for Catherine and me. It brings together two institutions that are dear to us: our alma mater, St Andrews University, and Middle Temple, our hosts here tonight.

"First of all, we have been privileged to receive the best university educations. Secondly, we all love St Andrews. We love it for the academic start in life it gave us. We love it for its traditions - traditions that lie at the very heart of Scotland's history. We love it because it made us look beyond St Andrews, beyond the borders of Scotland, to the wide world. But perhaps most important of all, we love it for the friendships it has given us.

"As I look around this hall tonight - and even take a peek at the person sitting three from my left (Kate) - I thank God for those friendships - our friendship - forged in our ancient halls. I even include in that one of my alma mater, who shall remain nameless here tonight, who rang me today to say he'd pay good money for me not to speak."

Kate and William first met at St Andrews and they both graduated in 2005 with a 2:1. William chose to do his honours degree in Geography while Kate chose Art History.