The prince will stay in halls of residence

The prince now begins his four-year degree and hopes that the media will respect his wishes to leave him and others to study in privacy.

The arrival of the prince at St Andrews has been eagerly anticipated.

Applications for courses at the university have risen by 44% and there have been reports of some female students ordering wedding dresses before his arrival.

Dr Lang said it was important for the media to respect the wishes of the prince and the other students, and allow them to get on with their respective courses.

He said: "There is a bit of apprehension, a bit of butterflies.

"For most of these students it will be the first step into the big world as adults."

The prince has enjoyed a gap year and travelled to various countries including Chile and Africa.

Royal toast

As a "thank you" to the media for leaving him alone during his year out, the prince made a pre-university debut in Scotland with a series of official functions with his father.

The prince visited the Sighthill area of Glasgow on Friday. He chatted to local people in an area which has been the focus of racial tension in recent months following the housing of 1,500 asylum seekers.

Among his other engagements, William signed the US book of condolence at the US Consulate in Edinburgh.

A peckish prince also had to make do with fish and chips, after being too late to buy a cheese toastie at a hotel in Callander.