Dozens of school children joined dignitaries from across London to welcome Princess Alexandra to the first official service of the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
The Princess wore a royal blue crushed velvet dress and a fur hat, and chatted and posed for photos with students after the mayor’s civic service at St Luke’s Church in Canbury this morning, Monday, February 6.
The Bishop of Kingston Richard Cheetham praised the Queen’s duty and service during her six decades on the throne, which, he noted to laughter, began before he was born.
Holy Cross student Rachel Holbrook, 14, said Princess Alexandra smiled at her before the start of the service while she was standing at the back of the church waiting for the mayor to enter his civic service.
After the service, the princess, who lives in Richmond Park, asked Rachel how old she was, what school she went to, and which subjects she was missing to be at the event.
She said: “She was such a lovely person. She was really nice and friendly.
“The fact that she stopped to talk to some young people, that was really good.”
Elena Bushe, 11, from Burlington Junior School, said: “The service was very grand. I was expecting the princess to be more grand.
“She was wearing quite a pretty dress. I image the hat was real fur.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here