King Charles paved the way for Prince William as he proved it’s alright to change your mind
King Charles paved the way for the Prince of Wales when he became the first heir to the throne to achieve a huge accolade
![King Charles paved the way for Prince William. Seen here are the King and Prince at different occasions.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TezSvoYtbfd3ZcK92GHheM-415-80.jpg)
King Charles paved the way for Prince William with a major choice and proved it’s alright to change your mind.
- His Majesty once made history as the first heir to the throne to achieve a major accolade, forging a path that Prince William later followed.
- King Charles switched things up after a year of working towards this milestone and his eldest son went on to mirror this.
- This royal news comes as we revealed the relatable reason Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte were spotted in a South London pub.
From the moment Prince William was born, he’s been destined to follow in his father King Charles’ footsteps, firstly succeeding him as the current Prince of Wales and then as King in the future. Since His Majesty became monarch, Prince William has joined him in having the unique experience of what it’s like being first in the royal line of succession and the responsibilities that accompany this. And whilst senior royals often have to be decisive, King Charles paved the way for his eldest son and showed him it’s ok to change your mind about certain things.
As revealed by the Royal Family website ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation, His Majesty was the “first heir to the throne to earn a university degree”.
King Charles studied at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge and whilst he initially started off taking one educational path, he soon found himself on another one entirely. The King was an archaeology and anthropology student for his first year but later switched degrees and studied history for the rest of his time there.
His Majesty graduated with a 2:2 in 1970 and having gone to university as the heir to the British throne, he perhaps set the precedent for Prince William to follow in his footsteps and earn a university degree himself.
Not only that, but King Charles’ choice to switch degrees after a year is something Prince William also did. The Prince of Wales started studying History of Art at the University of St Andrews where he met his future wife the Princess of Wales.
Prince William later changed degrees and graduated with a 2:1 in geography in 2005. His delighted father attended the graduation ceremony in Scotland and it could perhaps be said that his choice to switch degrees highlighted to Prince William that changing your mind to pick a subject that suits you best is completely alright.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Geography also makes sense for Prince William given his devotion to environmental awareness and conservation. And whilst he left his Art History studies behind him, the Princess of Wales graduated with a 2:1 degree in this subject.
Kate did apparently change her mind about her university, though, with Hello! alleging that her school careers advisor claimed she’d reportedly wanted to go to the University of Edinburgh before opting to take a gap year. She started her History of Art degree at St Andrews a year later.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have visited St Andrews several times since they graduated, including in 2021. Addressing the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in a speech before his trip to St Andrews he said how “special” it is to him.
“It was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year that I first met Catherine,” Prince William declared. "Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
32 dining room ideas for a stylish, welcoming space
Looking for fresh and exciting ways to liven up your dining room interiors? We've got you covered
By Elena Kiratzi Published
-
5 award-winning products and brands given special recognition by our panel of beauty experts
These beauty brands and products have gone above and beyond, winning our special seal of approval
By Rhiannon Derbyshire Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s ‘unusual’ decision for George, Charlotte and Louis as they ‘can’t undo destiny’
The Prince and Princess of Wales's parenting approach is reportedly quite 'unusual' and they're following in the Middletons' footsteps
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Dame Shirley Bassey just broke protocol in front of King Charles and reacted with an ‘instinctive’ move
Shirley Bassey broke protocol at a prestigious ceremony with King Charles at Windsor Castle though, thankfully, he didn't seem to mind
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Princess Anne's nickname for King Charles is unusual to say the least but it reflects their 'very close' bond
The Princess Royal has the sweetest nickname for her brother King Charles and has been described by an expert as his 'right-hand woman'
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Camilla and King Charles’s ‘competition’ at home is remarkably unroyal and it really kicks off this time of year
Queen Camilla once revealed that she and King Charles get 'competitive' over a hobby that many fans might not imagine them doing
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince George and Princess Charlotte's ‘nightmare’ before meeting Taylor Swift that caused some ‘stress and panic’
George and Charlotte met Taylor Swift at Wembley on Prince William's 42nd birthday but their schedule reportedly didn't quite go to plan
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate and William 'shaken to the core' amid 'testing time' - but they're 'stronger than ever'
The Wales family have faced hard times recently - but a royal expert says that Kate and William's bond is 'stronger than ever'
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Carole Middleton supported by Prince William at Royal Ascot amid awkward moment Kate’s faced before
Carole Middleton has attended Ascot for the first time since 2022 and Prince William came to her rescue after a brief mishap
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton's action shot of George, Charlotte and Louis for William's 42nd birthday is the best royal family photo we've seen
The Prince of Wales's 42nd birthday photo features his three children and it's a fun departure from the royal pictures we usually see
By Emma Shacklock Published