Prince Andrew told a school assembly in Whitehawk this afternoon: “I’ll be back!”
The Duke of York flew in to East Brighton Park before making the short drive to the City Academy Whitehawk where he spent more than two hours with children and staff.
He visited classrooms, spoke to parents and pupils as well as staff and supporters of a school that has been transformed in a few short years.
When he asked one child what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied: “A princess.”
He told the school assembly that he had a message to take back to his nephew Prince George.
He asked hundreds of children in the hall for assembly this afternoon (Tuesday 1 March): “How good are your teachers?”
And they shouted back: “Amazing!”
He got the same response when he pointed to head teacher David Williams and asked: “What’s this man like? Is he any good as a head master?”
But there was just a hubbub when he asked the children what the worst thing was about being at the school, with no one offering an answer.
So he singled out teacher Alex Wheatley, who said: “Having to leave it.”
The royal visitor looked surprised when he asked a pupil to name the best thing and was told: “Maths.”
One quick-witted youngster came back with an old favourite of a quip: “Going home!”
The prince told the school’s 350 children and dozens of staff: “The reason that I’m here is because I’m very very interested in your education and your skills because you are the future of this country.
“We are going to rely on you to keep this country as prosperous as it is today if not more so.
“Word has reached Buckingham Palace and the Queen about the sort of learning that you are doing and the work you are doing and I wanted to congratulate you all.”
He said: “A school is only as good as a three legged school.”
