Prince William graduates from St Andrews

Prince William has graduated from St Andrews in Scotland with a 2.1 degree in geography to consider what life being pursued around the world by paparazzi will be like.

The Prince who has enjoyed four years almost free from intrusive media coverage of his life will now experience the harsh glare of the media spotlight.

Midnight on Friday, following the graduation ball, will mark the end of the informal arrangement reached with the newspapers by Clarence House. The agreement meant that William has enjoyed a life somewhat more ordinary that might have been expected by a Prince as he pursued his academic studies.

It is understood that Prince William is still considering a career in the Army, but in the meantime he has a variety of work placements lined up in the coming months.

These range from working at a City firm to mountain rescue and the more traditional management of a country estate.

The Prince said that he was sad to leave the university and had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time there.

"I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has made my time here so enjoyable. I have been able to lead as 'normal' a student life as I could have hoped for and I am very grateful to everyone, particularly the locals, who has helped to make this happen," he said.

But the graduation ceremony was slightly extraordinary as it was attended by the Queen. William's grandmother, of course, toasted her grandson's success along with his father Prince Charles and step-mother Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay.

The Prince will now take up his first official solo engagements on behalf of the Queen when he visits New Zealand to meet the touring British and Irish Lions team.

(SP/KMcA)