The lasting unions of two Tauranga couples are living proof Prince William and Kate Middleton were not the first to find love at the prestigious University of St Andrew's in Scotland.
Retired Otumoetai College maths teacher David Rorke and his wife, local historian Jinty Rorke, met as university students at a flat in Hope St - the same elegant crescent where the royal couple were room-mates.
It was December 1962 and a girlfriend of Jinty's invited David, with whom she played badminton, to "a usual evening get-together" at number 10 Hope St - a flat well-known for having a more lenient landlady than others in the street.
Prince William flatted with his future bride at 13A Hope St.
For Dr Rorke, who was studying physics, and his future wife, a French and German student, romance blossomed and the couple married at the St Andrew's Chapel in November the following year.
They both moved into teaching careers and have only fond memories of their time at St Andrew's.
They describe it as an intimate university with only about 1200 students.
"There were all sorts of traditions because it was such an old university," Mrs Rorke said.
The couple built a yacht and worked overseas before sailing to New Zealand with their two daughters in 1976.
More than a decade later, Michele Beaton left her family who were living in Cyprus to study biochemistry at St Andrew's.
Now running a tourism business for secondary school students in Tauranga, Mrs Beaton openly admits her choice of university and course were based on a boy she was keen on - a plan which fell apart when he wasn't accepted to St Andrew's.
Once in Scotland, Mrs Beaton first met her future husband while she and her girlfriends were dressed as witches at a university party, the second they had attended that night that was not fancy dress.
"You looked a bit odd because no one else was in fancy dress," joked Mr Beaton.
The chance meeting remained just that until the couple found themselves on the same outdoor training trip in April 1975.
They began dating before marrying in Cyprus in July 1977.
The couple now have three daughters and moved to New Zealand in 1993.
With the 600-year-old university steeped in tradition, the couples agree it was unlikely their time at St Andrew's differed greatly to that of their royal counterparts.
"They would have undoubtedly done the pier walk," Dr Rorke said.
The famous walk involves St Andrew's students wearing their scarlet gowns and walking along the St Andrew's pier.
The two couples, who are now friends, will enjoy the royal wedding together on Friday night.
"We're going to celebrate over a bottle of champagne," Mr Beaton said.