They met at Saint Andrews University in 2003 when Middletone was a house-mate of Williams.

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Dr Brian Lang, principal and vice-chancellor of the St Andrews University, said Mr Sifford would be attending a graduation ceremony at Younger Hall beginning at 1430 BST.

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Andrews University in Scotland, the alma mater of well-heeled, privately educated students like Prince William.

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St Andrews University said it would, however, offer "a wide-ranging package of new bursaries, scholarships and financial aid".

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Andrews, the University of Edinburgh was also home to many full-time American students.

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St Andrews prides itself as "Britain's top match-making university".

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But while Renzi's following is growing, he was seen as too much of a modernizer for an Italian left long dominated by ex-communists, according to Geoff Andrews, an Open University senior lecturer and expert on Italian politics.

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At Edinburgh University demand from Scottish-based students was up 4.3%, at St Andrews it has risen by 4.5% and Glasgow saw a 10.2% increase.

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As the couple began their two-hour visit, a choir could be heard from the quadrangle, singing the St Andrews University song Gaudeamus.

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