VIDEO: The Queen visits Harborough district
THE QUEEN officially opened Leicester Grammar School in Great Glen today (Thursday, December 4)surrounded by delighted students and staff.
Mail reporter Jemma Crowston covered the event and even managed to capture the moment The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh left the school on her mobile phone.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty opened the 33million new school this afternoon after listening to a performance by the school choir and its swing band and watching a PE lesson and seeing a classroom.
Pupils from St Cuthbert's C of E School were lining the entrance to the grammar school when the Queen arrived escorted by police.
The visit was just one of the stops on the royal whirlwind tour to some of the county's new buildings including the Curve Theatre and the David Wilson library at the University of Leicester.
Chairman of Harborough District Council, Brian Smith, was there to welcome the pair along with others including Sue Smith, chief executive of HDC, MP Edward Garnier and the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton.
After officially opening the school the Queen and the Duke signed the visitors book before waving goodbye to crowds of sixth form students and staff.
Speaking to the Mail afterwards students were delighted to have met The Queen and the Prince.
Year 13 head boy James Holley, of Oaktree Close, Kibworth, thanked the Queen for her visit.
The 17-year-old said: "I was quite nervous. She thanked me for a lovely visit and said it was nice to meet me. I said it was nice to meet her too."
Prince Philip spoke to year seven student Oliver Thompson, From Saddington.
The 11-year-old said: "The Duke said 'well it's nearly Christmas it's all very exciting'. I said yes and he said how smart we all looked."
Three-year-old Clara Leech, from Willoughby Waterleys, was delighted when the Queen gave her tips on how to decorate her Christmas card.
The youngster said: "She was wearing all pink and looked really pretty. I showed her my card with a tree on it and she told me to put a sequin on the bottom."
George Warner (17), year 13 student from Tur Langton, said: "I was exhibiting my A-Level artwork and the Queen was asking me about it. I was quite nervous but luckily I didn't stutter or anything.
"She was asking what my plans were for the future and I said I was going to have a gap year and go on some adventures and she said that was lovely."
Year six pupil Chloe Butland, from Sibbertoft, spoke to the Duke.
The 10-year-old said: "He asked me when our Christmas holiday was and I said in two weeks and that I was looking forward to it."
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Weather for Harborough
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
