Sunshine burst through the clouds as hundreds of well-wishers waved flags to welcome the Queen to Sydney Russell School today during the monarch’s second stop-off in the borough.
Crowds lining Parsloes Avenue roared as the Queen pulled up to the Dagenham school with a royal fleet of cars.
Her Majesty entered to loud cheers from students and staff members, as the Duke of Edinburgh followed closely.
The great-grandmother was greeted at the entrance by headteacher Roger Leighton and Deputy Lieutenant Major Tony O’Hagan.
Cabinet member Cllr Evelyn Carpenter and corporate director for children’s services, Helen Jenner, also had the opportunity to address the Queen as she made her way to the inner playground.
Prince Philip, who has played cycle polo himself at Sandringham, was fascinated by the demonstration of the sport by pupils, as the Queen asked players how long they had been involved in the discipline.
Polo cyclists Toney Smith, 14 and Teyler Pinneager, 13, were thrilled at the opportunity to meet the monarch.
“It’s been great, it’s so exciting and nerve-wracking,” said Toney. “It’s been a pleasure to have the Queen here and to talk to the Duke of Edinburgh.
“He asked me: ‘What do you do when you fall off the bike?’ I told him you have to ‘touch’ at the side.
“It was a really amazing experience,” he added.
It was then time for lessons, as the Queen made her way to a French class, while the Duke enquired after O-levels in a neighbouring German lesson, and was told the qualification was now called a GCSE.
Suvika Kumaravelu, 13, spoke to Her Majesty in French about her grandfather, who had shared a birthday with the Queen.
“I’m going to say my grandfather knows the Queen, because they sent cards to each other,” said Suvika of her Sri Lankan grandfather, Debathksan Samuel, minutes before the Queen’s entry.
While Her Majesty was given a presentation on her old friend Charles de Gaulle – “a stubborn man”, she joked – Prince Philip listened to poems written by German poet and novelist Erich Kaestner, which were recited by pupils at the school.
“I don’t think ‘OK’ is a German word,” he joked to teacher Katie Schubert, who led the lesson.
The 94-year-old added encouragingly: “I’ve just come back from Germany but I spent my time not understanding a word of it – even though I studied it at school!”
The royal entourage was then beckoned to a musical performance by the school’s advanced singers, who regaled an invited audience with Dream A Little Dream Of Me, made famous by Louis Armstrong.
A rousing rendition of Adiemus by Karl Jenkins was also performed by the school orchestra and singers, along with an upbeat display by the Sydney Russell drumming group.
The Queen’s busy timetable was polished off with the official opening of the school’s redevelopment, as she gracefully unveiled the plaque before hundreds of school children.
Pupil Lily Hewitt, aged 12, presented Her Majesty with a stunning bouquet, something she descibed as: “It was an absolute pleasure.”
As the royal couple disappeared to their next appointment, headteacher Roger Leighton re-lived the once-in-a-lifetime visit.
“They really seemed to enjoy the musical performance, they said they massively appreciated it,” he said.
“I’m so proud of the school today.”
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