Surprise Royal Visit for Northumberland school children

People lined the streets of a Northumberland town earlier today, to catch a glimpse of the Royal Couple as they arrived at Berwick-Upon-Tweed station on the Royal Train.

William and Kate went to Holy Trinity First School in Berwick-upon-Tweed, where they thanked teachers for their efforts to support learning during the coronavirus crisis.

As a treat for the Berwick school's 175 pupils, Kensington Palace arranged for Rent A Reindeer to take three animals to the site.

Some of the children wore antlers on their heads and some donned Santa hats for the lunchtime visit.

The Duke and Duchess sanitised their hands as they entered the school grounds, a short drive from Berwick railway station.

After the visit, headteacher Nicholas Shaw said: It has been fantastic and the children loved it.

"We feel honoured to have been chosen and appreciate they are taking the time to think about teachers and the work that has been going on in schools.

"It has been a challenge during lockdown, a lot of new skills have been learned.

"We stayed open throughout for children of key workers and vulnerable children.''

Rent a Reindeer owner George Richardson took along Chaz, Crackers and her six-month-old calf Echols, and told William and Kate about caring for them and how coronavirus has affected his business.

Mr Richardson, who is based in Cold Hesledon, County Durham, said the booking by the palace had been top secret''.

He said: "We got a phone call out of the blue two weeks ago. They asked us to bring a reindeer for the royal visit and we were happy to oblige.

"We brought these three as a group, although Chaz is not the dad as he has been castrated - he is the uncle.

"Mum and baby go with him and they are a nice group.

"This was baby's first outing and she took it in her stride.''