ɐkˈaʊnts ʌv ɪts ˈɔːɹɪdʒˌɪn ɐɡɹˈiː ðætðə tʃˈɔɪs ʌv pælˈætᵻnˌeɪt pˈɜːpəl æz dˈʌɹəm jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾiz kˈʌlɚ ɹᵻlˈeɪts tə ðə kˈiː ɹˈoʊl plˈeɪd baɪ wˈɪljəm vˈæn mˈaɪldɚt, ðə bˈɪʃəp ʌv dˈʌɹəm, ɪnðə faʊndˈeɪʃən ʌvðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi pˈɜːpəl bˌiːɪŋ ðɪ ᵻpˈɪskɑːpəl kˈʌlɚ, æz wˈɛl æz tə ðə juːnˈiːk hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl stˈæɾəs ʌv dˈʌɹəm kˈaʊnti æz ɐ pælˈætᵻnˌeɪt, ˌʌndɚ ðə sˈɪvəl ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾi ʌvðə bˈɪʃəp, ʌntˈɪl vˈæn mˈaɪldɚts dˈɛθ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi sˈɪks.
Accounts of its origin agree that the choice of palatinate purple as Durham University's colour relates to the key role played by William Van Mildert, the Bishop of Durham, in the foundation of the university (purple being the episcopal colour), as well as to the unique historical status of Durham County as a Palatinate, under the civil authority of the bishop, until Van Mildert's death in 1836.