When Prince William wanted to quit university: The royal came close to walking away from St Andrews (where he met Kate) after one term - before key intervention changed his mind

Though he left with a degree and a girlfriend he would go on to marry, things could have gone very differently had Prince William fulfilled his desire to leave university. The 19-year-old prince with his father Prince Charles during a visit to an education centre in Glasgow, shortly before he started university in 2001 Prince William at St Andrews during the start of his degree after enjoying a gap year of travelling Charles and William greet crowds who have gathered to see him on his first day at St Andrews When William first expressed doubts over his choice of course and institution, his grandfather Prince Philip responded with: 'William needs to knuckle down and not wimp out.' Above: Charles and William greeting crowds after arriving for his first day at St Andrews Prince William shakes hands with people outside of St Andrews University There were also concerns William's departure could have caused problems for St Andrews' image, as well as the politics behind a British monarch possibly being viewed as snubbing a Scottish university. Kensington Palace and St Andrews agreed for William to switch courses to Geography instead William later said he felt he was 'daunted' over the situation rather than homesick 'I don't think I was homesick. Leading journalist Andrew Neil, who was Lord Rector at St Andrews at the time, put the scenario down to William having 'the blue', something that he said was a common problem with 'public school boys'.