Princess Eugenie starts university

Sep 24, 2009, 11:00 GMT

Britain's Princess Eugenie starts university today (24.09.09).

The 19-year granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth is due to move into her £96-a-week halls of residence at Newcastle University this afternoon.

She is expected to attend her first classes next week, as she works towards a degree in English and History of Art.

Eugenie - the daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson - will be guarded by royal protection officers throughout the three-year course, but is keen to live the "student lifestyle".

An insider said: "She chose Newcastle because it offered a great degree course and it seems a really fun place to go.

"Eugenie is a very down to earth girl who hates using her title and she was adamant that she wanted to live in halls with her friends. She just wants to be treated like any other undergraduate."

Eugenie will have a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, single bed, wardrobe, desk and chest of drawers. She will share a living room and kitchen with five others.

Eugenie took her A-Levels last year and scored the highest grades of any member of the royal family, with As in Art and English Literature and a B in History of Art.

She has spent the last year travelling, taking in the sights in Australia, South Africa and Cambodia.