Prince William And Kate Middleton Revisit Town Where They First Met And Fell For Each Other

May 28, 2021

St. Andrew’s University is where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first met and fell in love 20 years ago. The couple met in their first year of college back in 2001 and they have been in each other’s lives ever since. While in the area, Prince William and Kate also spent time with charity organizations in the county of Fife. 

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 highlight of the Duke and Duchess's visit was when they raced against one another while land-yachting at West Sands beach. Land-yachts are three-wheeled recreation vehicles with a single sail that can be ridden on packed sand. The couple’s competitive nature came out as they playfully tried to beat the other to the finish line. Prince William and Kate had a blast and were all smiles while racing around each other.

William and Kate looked joyful and very much in love while taking a walk down memory lane as they remembered their past years spent in college. The excursion at St. Andrew’s University is part of a mini-tour of Scotland the royal couple started earlier in May, 2021. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Fife, Edinburgh and Orkney. 

A statement from Kensington Palace outlined Prince William and Kate’s visit: “Their Royal Highnesses look forward to meeting a wide variety of people across the country, as well as charities and organisations who are doing incredible work on issues such as the environment, mental health, homelessness and addiction.”

Throughout the entire trip the Duke and Duchess seemed filled with cheer. "They said they were delighted to be back at St. Andrews, and they were looking forward to going to the university later," Guy McKenzie of Blown Away, the land-yachting company the royal couple paid a visit to, told PEOPLE. The day was filled with many fun activities, but getting to revisit the place where they met was certainly a special experience for the couple. 

St. Andrew’s University holds many happy memories for William and Kate and they were happy to relive some of those treasured moments. Laura Warshauer, who is a New Jersey native that used to live in the same dorm as William and Kate, told PEOPLE, "Whenever Kate was in the room, Will was obviously paying attention to her.” It seems William’s love for Kate began the moment he first saw her.

Warshauer continued, "When we'd be sitting at lunch in the dining hall and the two of them would be talking, it was amazing to see how natural it was, how they had so much to say to each other. Looking back, there were all these small moments—certainly moments where I was like, 'Wow, this could really be something.'" Warshauer was right, William and Kate are now one of the most talked-about couples in the world, and they seem genuinely happy together.

The most exciting part of the couple’s visit to Fife was the land-yachting. The Duke and Duchess did not hold back their competitive sides and fought hard to win. In the end, Prince William came out on top. Jamie McKenzie, Guy’s brother who also works for Blown Away, said, "He got lucky – there was a gust of wind! He got blown away!" 

Jamie and Guy are twins and they were there to witness the entire race between William and Kate. “We were surprised as we expected the duchess to win as she was the more experienced sailor,” Guy told PEOPLE after the prince won the race. No matter the winner, both the Duke and Duchess looked like they were having a lot of fun. 

Prince William and Kate were there to support Fife Young Carers, who are a group of young people that have to look after their family members. The land-yachting was a fun activity they could all enjoy together and to give the young carers a break from caring for their grandparents, siblings or other members of their family. 

“They asked them about how COVID has affected them and how life has been during the pandemic for them. They were really engaging and relaxed with the young people. The young carers were shy at first, but I think once they had been out on the yachts they relaxed and had a great time. This has been a real treat for them," Kirstie Howell, service manager for Fife Young Carers said. It looks like this visit to their old college town is one that Kate and William will remember for years to come! 

What do you think of William and Kate’s visit to the place where they first fell in love? Have you ever been land-yachting? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to send this on to your loved ones.