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Prince William Graduates From University
By MATT DUNHAM, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Prince William graduated from St. Andrews University on Thursday in a colorful, tradition-steeped ceremony watched by his grandmother,
Queen Elizabeth II, and father,
Prince Charles.
Wearing a hood with cherry-red lining to indicate he is a Master of the Arts, the 23-year-old prince knelt before university chancellor Sir Kenneth Dover, who tapped him on the head with a cap. According to St. Andrews tradition, the cap is sewn from a fragment of breeches worn by Scottish religious reformer John Knox, who preached in the medieval university town in the 16th century.
William, 23, was one of 260 students to graduate in the 4 1/2-hour morning ceremony. Girlfriend Kate Middleton graduated in the same ceremony.
William earned a 2:1 geography masters degree in four years of study. A 2:1 denotes an upper second class degree, a very respectable achievement — and better than Prince Charles' 2:2 from Cambridge. A Scottish Master of the Arts degree is the equivalent of an undergraduate English Bachelor of Arts degree.
After a summer break, William will undertake three work-experience placements, joining a mountain-rescue team, working at an international financial institution in London and learning about land management on a country estate, the prince's Clarence House office said Thursday.
William has said he then plans to sign up for military training at Sandhurst, the prestigious military academy south of London where his younger brother, Harry, began his studies last month.
At the graduation ceremony, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, sat alongside Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
The queen, who missed seeing Prince Harry parade the colors at Sandhurst last week due to a cold, wore a lemon suit with matching feathered hat.
Charles and the duchess clapped respectfully and Prince Philip perused the graduation program as William walked back to his seat to loud applause.
Afterward, the royals chatted with William and other graduates outside St. Andrews' Younger Hall.
Speaking before the ceremony, William said he was sad to be leaving university.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St. Andrews and I shall be very sad to leave," he said.
"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 have helped to make this happen."
William also thanked his grandmother for attending the ceremony, noting that she had not been feeling well.
AP Photo: Britain's Prince William waves as he leaves after attending his university graduation ceremony at St....
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