Prince William: The conversation with Charles that changed his life

Thousands of students in the UK received their A-level results last week, as did Lady Louise Windsor last week. And many of them are likely to be apprehensive about the new academic life that is about to begin for them. And at the time, Prince William was no exception. The Duke of Cambridge even came close to dropping out of university after the first term, the Mirror reported. But it was a conversation with Charles that changed his life, convincing him to continue.

At the time at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Prince William had initially enrolled as an art history student. But life in Scotland seemed, according to royal author Robert Lacey, not to match the future heir's expectations.

In his book, Battle of Brothers, he says that Kate Middleton's husband would much rather shop at Tesco's than attend parties where the students were all fascinated by the presence of the Queen's grandson. Back for Christmas in 2001, William told his father he was considering changing universities.

'My father was very understanding'

After much thought and discussion with a communications advisor, Prince Charles suggested that his son stay at St. Andrews with the option of changing his course of study to geography instead. William accepted and was able to see his relationship with Kate Middleton, whom he met there, grow and flourish.

Years later, the Duke of Cambridge recalled this period of doubt:

I don't think I was homesick, I was more intimidated. My father was very understanding about it and realised that I had the same problem as he did. We talked a lot, and in the end we both realised—I definitely realised—that I had to go back.