“There we had everything, I cooked lasagna and caramels for all of us. Sunday night dinners on the third floor of the dorm,” Laura Warshauer, aka Gigi Rowe, her stage name, sings in the song To Will and Kate, Meet Me at Exit 109 – To Will and Kate, meet me at exit 109. “Over there” is the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where Prince William met the young Kate Middleton, the one who is today his wife. Laura Warshauer is also a former student of the prestigious Scottish establishment. She was one of the now-princely couple's closest friends in first year. In April 2011, at the time of their wedding, she dedicated this romantic song to them, the clip of which is full of photos of the three of them and their comrades at the time.
For several weeks, the American has been making waves on Instagram. On July 19, she posted a photo of herself and the Princess of Wales from their student days, accompanied by the following caption, “Sending lots of love to Kate Middleton, the future queen from England and my ex-dormmate! Here we are on Hope street, at a party. I have precious memories with Kate. She is the most sweet, caring, down-to-earth and genuine person. knows, and it's incredible to see her shine and inspire the world with her compassion and courage.” The photo quickly made the rounds on social networks and Laura found herself harassed with questions about the relationship she had with William and Kate. This November 18, she tells her 65,600 subscribers where and when the photograph that is causing so much discussion was taken. It was the 19th birthday of one of their mutual friends.
Of an American father and a French mother, Laura Warshauer was born on December 23, 1983 in New Jersey in the United States. She was passionate about music from a very young age but still wanted to pursue higher education before embarking on an artistic adventure. A good student, she was accepted at the University of St Andrews at the start of the 2001 school year. Laura found herself staying at St Salvator's Hall. At the end of the corridor, “Will Wales's” room. On the floor below, that of young Catherine Middleton. Very quickly the three students become good friends.
“I remember thinking, 'Wow,' the first time I met Kate,” Laura told the American magazine Peoplein 2011. “She was so adorable.” As for Prince William, she confides, “when he was around, we didn't notice him. He could walk around like an ordinary young man and people didn't take much notice of his presence.” Laura's room becomes a headquarters for the three friends, William stopping by unexpectedly to ask for cookies or to browse the pages of his celebrity magazines and Kate spending hours on her bed, trying to learn a few guitar chords.
The trio lost touch when Laura returned to the United States after a year of study at St. Andrews. Sometimes nostalgic, Laura continues to think that Kate and William haven't changed since their college days. “There was so much innocence at that time. I look at my photos and I see the romance and the magic again,” she told People. More than 20 years later, the romance and magic that emanate from the princely couple seem not to have aged.
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