Duke of Kent VIP at Dover academy's Grand Day parade

"I always struck by the spirit, easy social graces and discipline of the pupils."
- The Duke of Kent

His Royal Highness, Field Marshal, The Duke of Kent visited the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, to celebrate the school’s first year as an Academy and took part in Grand Day.

The Duke, who is patron of the school, spent the morning as the guest of honour at the annual prize giving, while in the afternoon, he was the inspecting officer for a full scale trooping the colour parade in which the school’s 450 pupils took part.

Addressing parents, governors and students at the event, the Duke said: “I always struck by the spirit, easy social graces and discipline of the pupils.

“As you know, all pupils on parade wear over their hearts the cap badge of their serving parent.

“This is a highly poignant tradition and it is a great pleasure for me, with all my years’ association with the Armed Forces, to work out all the cap badges of the different corps, regiments and services which go to make up today’s modern Armed Forces .

“I am also struck by the magnificent site with the School enjoys with its 150 acres of tended parkland There can be few Schools in the land which can enjoy so enviable a setting.”

Student prefect and bandsman Mathew Prentice, 17, whose father is a Major in the Royal Engineers, said: “I felt very proud to wear my father’s heart badge for Grand Day.

“It’s a very special day and is our way of showing our gratitude to those who serve bravely in the Armed Forces.

“The parade lasts over two hours so it is a challenge, especially for the younger ones.”

The Grand Day parade also marked the first anniversary of the school gaining academy status.