Prince William Guards His Bum: PEOPLE

By C. Young

Wednesday October 24, 2001 11:02 AM EDT

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On the eve of his arrival at Scotland's St. Andrews University, Britain's Prince William issued a warning: "People who try to take advantage of me and get a piece of me," he said in an official interview, "I spot it quickly and soon go off them." His regal wits were quickly tested. As the 19-year-old future king chatted with friends one night at a local bar, a passing coed grabbed a piece of princely posterior. William immediately shot the young woman a look of sharp disdain. Says a fourth-year student who was there: "He was not impressed." In the weeks since classes started on Sept. 24, the heir -- who goes by the name William Wales on campus -- has tried to live like any other freshman at the 590-year-old university. He sleeps in a dorm room and shops (albeit with his ever-present bodyguard) at the local supermarket at the center of the town of St. Andrews. He attends lectures with as many as 200 other students. Early evenings are spent reading or hanging out with mates over a pint of beer at the pubs near campus. Despite his low profile, the lines outside local hot spots snake down the block, thanks to a larger student body-a result of William's enrollment. He hopes the novelty will soon wear off. "It will get easier as time goes on," he told Press Association reporter Sam Greenhill in September. "Everyone will get bored of me." Those who don't may have more luck finding William in the college library than on the dance floor. "I saw him there in the second week," says a fellow student. "He must be a bit of a swot." That's the King's English for nerd.