Newcastle University has apologised to Princess Eugenie of York, after one of its professors claimed she was only given a place on her university course because of her status as The Queen’s granddaughter.
The comments were reportedly made by an anti-monarchist senior history lecturer at Republic’s conference in the city; Dr Martin Farr claimed Eugenie was initially turned down by the university for her course, claims The Daily Mail.
Princess Eugenie has received an apology after a republican professor claimed she got into university on her status and not grades. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images
“And a friend of mine who is Italian was the admissions officer for BA English literature and received one application for the undergraduate degree that was not good enough and so discarded it.”
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“Being Italian,” Farr said, his friend in the admissions office “had not noticed that Princess Eugenie of York from Sandringham may have had more significance for the institution than another applicant.”
He added: “Apparently the university was horrified that she had been rejected before she was offered a place with us for another degree.”
Eugenie graduated 2012, in having studied English literature, history of art and politics, for which the standard entry grades are AAB; she earned a 2:1.
Vice-chancellor and president of the university, Chris Day, has since told Sun Online: “We are entirely satisfied that Princess Eugenie met the high academic standards required for admission to Newcastle University and to suggest this was not the case is simply not true.
“The application was handled appropriately via UCAS as is the case with all our students.Every student, irrespective of his or her background, has a right to privacy.
“Dr Martin Farr and the University apologise unreservedly for the distress caused to HRH.”
The Princess, who is 27, currently works as an art director at Hauser and Wirth.
