Flag-waving school children greeted a key member of the Royal Family after he touched down in Dover today.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, visited Dover Christ Church Academy in Whitfield.

He was here to meet young people carrying out activities for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

The Earl, who turns 56 next Tuesday, spent nearly two hours at the talking to both pupils and staff as he toured the premises.

He was also here to learn how this school is supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities at the Aspen2 unit.

One of those was Sam Cox, 17, whose DofE task was cookery.

He said: "The Prince told me 'well done with your cooking'. He was very kind and I've never met a member of the Royal Family before."

Alison Henley, 16, has the task of learning a new musical instrument, in her case a piano and hopes to be part of a band.

"I thinks this is a proud day," she told the Mercury.

Pupils from other local schools were there for the Royal visit.

Beibhinn Hazelden, 16, of St Edmund's RC School in Dover, is doing a bronze DofE course in cookery.

She told KentOnline: "The Prince was saying how impressive it was that we were making our own pizza dough.

"Then he spoke to us about what we would be doing in our future: He was a very nice man."

The Prince, the youngest of the Queen's four children, had landed by helicopter on the ground's of the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Dover.

He arrived by car at Christ Church at 11.25pm, where pupils first met him.

He finally left at 1pm after unveiling a plaque commemorating his visit.

With his parting words he thanked all those participating in DofE.

As he was about to pull the veil he quipped: "Right that was all the exciting bit this is the most boring bit. You'll have to imagine it's really exciting."

A chorus of three cheers was given to the Prince as he left.

Other DofE participants attending the visit were from St Anselm's (RC), St Nicholas and Hope View Schools in Canterbury, Foreland Fields School and the Royal Harbour Academy in in Ramsgate.

Also there were pupils from Sir Roger Manwod's School in Sandwich, Ursuline College, Westgate-on-Sea,Wye School and Hartsdown Academy in Margate.

The dignitaries that met him included Dover mayor Gordon Cowan, Mike Connelly, chairman of Dover District Council, and school principal Jamie Maclean.

Among the others were Ann Alan, chairman of Kent County Council, Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenants of Kent, Kent Police Ch Insp Elena Hall plus leading representatives of DofE.

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