THE Royal School in Haslemere welcomed a very special royal visitor recently to its annual prize-giving to celebrate the achievements and endeavours of its pupils over the past academic year.

The Princess Royal, the president of the school since 1975 when she succeeded her uncle Lord Mountbatten of Burma, is a regular visitor to the school which enjoys royal connections dating back to 1840 when Queen Victoria became a founder donor.

Founded as a forward thinking and pioneering project to educate the daughters of naval officers, its expansion to educate boys, makes it one of only eight schools in the country where pupils are taught in single-sex classes at key points in their learning.

It was the first time The Princess Royal had visited since boys have been admitted at the senior school site in the town – the junior school is based on a site next to the A3 off Portsmouth Road, in Hindhead.

Demonstrating her down-to-earth approach, Her Royal Highness spent time afterwards talking to members of staff, governors, pupils and parents and delighted everyone she spoke to.

The ethos of the school remains to this day, committed to its mission to provide an all-round education, providing inspirational teaching and seeking to discover and develop the gifts and talents of every pupil.