Royal visit gets a mixed response from students

Whilst there were reports of some people camping out in Market Square since 4am others were more annoyed by disruption to the city.

The Royal couple appear on a balcony at the GuildhallAlex Clark

by Alice Udale-Smith

This article is 14 years old

Wednesday November 28 2012, 11:47am

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the city this morning. The tour started with an appearance on the Guildhall balcony, followed by a walk about in Market Square and then a ceremony at the Senate House where a few pre-selected University members were invited to meet the couple.

At the Guildhall they mey Cllr Sheila Stuart, Mayor of Cambridge, and other dignitaries as well as some of the people who received a Cambridge News Community Award.

Cllr Sheila Stuart said: “It has been a huge pleasure and a privilege
to host Their Royal Highnesses during their visit to the Guildhall. It was a wonderful experience standing on the Guildhall balcony and seeing the huge crowds who came out to welcome the Royal couple. It has been a very special day for Cambridge.”

The couple them moved on to the Senate HouseDaisy Mae Pope

Reactions from students to the visit have been mixed. Varsity Digital Editor, Luke Sweeney, commented: "Oh, William and Kate are outside my house. Do you think either of them can explain the Heckman selection correction to me? No? Okay, back to the work then..." However Reviews Editor, Ella Griffiths pronounced that "even having my bike stolen by the council means nothing after worshipping Kate and Willz from afar and having an awkwardly fangirl TV interview, yeaah royals!"

The city has seen a heavily increased police presence over the last two days with barriers being put up around the Senate House and Market Square and police sniffer dogs scouring the surrounding areas for most of yesterday. The result has been a considerable disruption to the city centre with some people complaining that it took nearly half an hour to get from Queens to St John's this morning.

Emily Handley, who met the Royal Couple in person said: "It was really nice to see them finally come to Cambridge. They were both really friendly, stopping and chatting with the crowd. Some people had been camping out in Market Square since 4am this morning apparently, so it was definitely really popular." Students at the invite only event at the Senate House also appeared to have enjoyed themselves with Prince William's jokes about his brother and "the other place" being particularly well received.

The Royal couple also visited Jimmy's Night Shelter and The Manor School on Arbury Road.

Have you got any photos of this morning's events? Email them to news@varsity.co.uk if you'd like to see them included on our blogs site Varsity Live.

Support Varsity

Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947. In order to maintain our editorial independence, our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges.

We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead.

In spite of this situation, we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too!

Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as £1, to help with our running costs. Many thanks, we hope you can help!