Kate Middleton And Prince William Stop For Takeaway Lunch At Chippy They Frequented As Students

May 28, 2021

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been touring Scotland this week, and as part of their tour, the couple revisited Fife, Scotland, where they first met. William and Kate studied together at University St Andrews in 2001. 

The Royal Scottish Tour began in Edinburgh, where William gave an address to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on May 22, 2021. PEOPLE reported that William stepped out as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland this month. This is the first time he has carried out the role, which was appointed to him by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. 

Kate joined her husband on May 24, after which the couple visited Orkney and Fife, the latter being the town where the couple first met and fell in love. 

When visiting their old college campus, the pair participated in a tree-planting ceremony and got the chance to show off their gardening skills. The tree that the couple planted will become the first tree in St Andrews Forest, which is a key initiative in making the institution carbon neutral according to Town And Country Magazine. The tree-planting ceremony was a project started by students on the University’s Environmental Sustainability Board during the pandemic. 

The Sun reported that the couple also took some time off to go back to their old haunts, and made an unscheduled visit at a fish and chip shop they used to frequent to grab a meal. Afterward, they got some dessert at the ice cream shop before continuing with their tour. 

According to Town & Country, Middleton met William at the University of St. Andrew's, where the two enrolled in 2001. In one of the most famous stories from their university days, the prince famously watched a charity fashion show that featured none other than Middleton herself.

The relationship moved fairly quickly, with the two moving in together in a shared flat, but it wasn't until 2004 that the couple's relationship was out in the open. It was then that someone from the press snapped a photo of the two together while they were on a ski trip, which led to widespread knowledge of the two's once private relationship.

Earlier in his tour, William opened up about the importance of Scotland in his life. It was a place that housed one of the "saddest memories" as he found "comfort and solace" in the Scottish countryside following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, but it was also "the source of some of my happiest memories" according to PEOPLE. 

For William, Scotland is a source "of great joy. Because it was here in Scotland – twenty years ago this year – that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart," he said. 

The couple has since visited, Orkney, where they officially opened Orkney's new Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall and also met local National Health Service staff according to PEOPLE. In Fife, the couple tried land surfing, an activity that was organized by Fife Young Carers. While on their college campus, the pair also participated in a tree-planting ceremony, which is a key initiative in making the institution carbon neutral according to Town And Country Magazine.

Apart from their official duties, the couple also visited the fish and chip shop, also known as a "chippy" in England, that they used to frequent as students. The Duke and Duchess were said to be "regulars" at the Anstruther Fish Bar according to the Sun. After having their lunch there, the couple strolled along the seafront before coming back to the chippie's Brattesani ice cream parlor for dessert.

About their visit, store owner Alison Smith told the news outlet, "They were customers of ours almost 20 years ago when they were at university. We were honored to serve them fish and chips back in the day when to us they were just William and Catherine Middleton. We haven't seen them since so we got the surprise of our life."

Smith also added, "It was a beautiful scene. We could see them out the window, the two of them in the sunshine up the pier enjoying fish and chips. Just themselves. It was a lovely scene."

Kate and William were wonderful customers according to Smith, as "they were so friendly and delight to talk to." The duke and duchess also made sure to leave compliments about the food before they left.

"William said it is just as good if not better than all of 20 years ago. He was delighted to be back again. The duchess said it was a little trip down memory lane and that they couldn't be up this way and not have fish and chips."

It seems like Kate and William certainly enjoyed their unscheduled visit for lunch, and will remember this "trip down memory lane" for years to come.  

Even though William and Kate are royalty, they love fast food just like anyone else. What do you think of their visit to their old "chippy"? Tell us about your thoughts, and be sure to let the royal fans in your life know about this unscheduled visit!