Prince William reportedly adopted the nickname "Steve" while studying at St Andrews University, in an apparent effort to blend in with fellow students and enjoy a more ordinary student experience away from the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales has spent virtually his entire life in the public eye, but his time at the Scottish university offered him a rare opportunity for greater privacy. During his four years there, news organisations agreed not to publish paparazzi photographs of William, allowing him to experience university life with less media attention.
Nickname Among Friends
In a further attempt to blend in, William is thought to have gone by the name "Steve" while completing his Master of Arts degree in Geography. Princess Kate, whom William met during his first year at St Andrews, was among the friends who may have used the nickname as the future King attempted to maintain a relatively normal student life, according to WalesOnline.
William initially enrolled to study Art History at St Andrews, where Kate was also studying, before switching courses to Geography. He graduated in June 2005.
Protecting Family Privacy
His desire to protect his private life has persisted well beyond his university years, particularly regarding his wife and their three children. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond previously told The Mirror that William is "almost obsessive" about protecting his children's privacy and is "much more a protective husband and dad than a King in waiting".
She suggested his approach was shaped in part by his own childhood and his experiences growing up amid the breakdown of his parents' marriage. "After a childhood spent shuffling between the homes of his quarrelling parents, William is determined to give his family the stability he missed," she said.
Windsor Family Life
Bond also pointed to the privacy available to the family at their Windsor home, suggesting it allows William and Kate to provide their children with a more settled upbringing away from the crowds and attention surrounding royal residences. She said it was likely important to William that his children "know exactly what a comfy and settled home life feels like" – something she suggested he did not experience before marrying Kate.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have since moved from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom property in Windsor. Despite their relatively private family life, William and Kate remain among the most popular members of the Royal Family. The couple were recently named the two most popular royals in a poll featured in the Channel 5 documentary The Royal Popularity List, separated by just one point and widely viewed as "warm and understanding".
William's reported use of the name "Steve" at university therefore offers a glimpse into how far the future King once went to enjoy a degree of normality – something he continues to prioritise for his own family today.
