Prince William and Kate Middleton: Back to School

It's going to be back to school for Prince William and Kate Middleton come February 25; the 28-year-old heir to the throne visits St. Andrews University on an official note, toting along his 29-year-old fiancee as preparation for her joining the royal fold.

Miss Middleton will also be in attendance the day before in Anglesey, Wales, when William gives his support for a lifeboat naming ceremony not far from their home.

Buckingham Palace sees the excursions as part of Kate's new role in the public eye. A confident Kate, who is aware of the pressure being put on her, seems to be handling it well.

At St. Andrews, the couple will meet faculty and students and voice William's support of the university's 600th anniversary appeal, spanning three years' time.

An official for the palace states, "St. Andrews is clearly very special to both William and Catherine." And it well would be as the university, the oldest in Scotland, is where the two first met.

In a recent statement the St. Andrews Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said, "I am delighted that Prince William has agreed to be Patron of our 600th Anniversary Appeal. Anniversaries are a time for reflection, celebration, and for action. St. Andrews has much to celebrate and so much still to achieve. We hope that Prince William and Miss Middleton are the first among many who will reconnect with St. Andrews and join in the celebrations."

Just twenty-four hours before the Scotland visit, the prince will be home in Wales where he will give a name to Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station's new lifeboat. He and his bride-to-be will observe as the crew performs a demonstration of a few of the watercraft's rescue features.

The two events serve to provide commonfolk in the more remote areas of the UK an opportunity to see Wills and Kate just weeks before their wedding in London's Westminster Abbey.

As for Kate, given her reputation for great style, we're all wondering what she'll wear!