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Back to where it all began: Royal couple returns to St. Andrews

By Susannah Palk for CNN
Kate Middleton and Prince William have returned to St. Andrews University as part of celebrations for its 600th anniversary.
Kate Middleton and Prince William have returned to St. Andrews University as part of celebrations for its 600th anniversary.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Prince William and Kate have returned to St. Andrews University
  • It's their second official engagement together and their first in Scotland
  • The couple met when studying art history at the university in 2001

London, England (CNN) -- Britain's Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton, returned to the scene of their early romance Friday, visiting St. Andrews University in Fife, Scotland.

As patron of the university's 600th Anniversary Appeal, Prince William officially launched the event, viewing the surviving Papal Bull -- a series of letters issued by the pope in 1413 -- and unveiling a plaque in front of students and staff.

Prince William, who is second line to the British throne, studied art history at St. Andrews when he first met Kate in 2001. The pair grew closer after moving into a shared house with two other friends and were said to have started dating in late 2003. They both graduated in 2005.

"Catherine might be a bit emotional today," said CNN royal contributor Mark Saunders. "She came here (St. Andrews) as just as a normal student and she comes back today as a woman who will one day sit on the throne of England.

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"This university claims it has the most student marriages of any university in Great Britain. My theory is, this is such a small town that there really isn't anything else to do but fall in love."

As a wedding present to the couple, the university has established a new scholarship in honor of its two graduates.

"We were very pleased to make the offer of this scholarship as a wedding gift... and absolutely delighted that they have graciously accepted," university principal and vice-chancellor Louise Richardson said in a statement.

It is the second official engagement for the couple, who launched a lifeboat in Anglesey, north Wales yesterday.

The pair currently resides in Anglesey while Prince William serves as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot. Their first official engagement was said to be deliberately low-key, in order to ease Middleton into royal life.

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