News
HRH celebrates 500 years since St. Paul's School was founded
24th November 2009
The Prince of Wales met "fiendishly talented" students today as he joined 500th anniversary celebrations at their school.
Former pupils of St. Paul's school - known as Old Paulines – include Samuel Pepys and the first Duke of Marlborough.
"I can't get over how fiendishly talented so many of you are," he said during his speech to students.
"I was particularly encouraged to discover before coming here how may Old Paulines have played such a significant part in this country's history.
"We owe St. Paul's school a huge debt of gratitude for helping produce such remarkable people.
"I am sure there are lots of you here who will be equally important as far as this country is concerned."
During this morning's visit The Prince met art students, musicians, sportsmen and scientists.
He heard about fundraising which has provided a toilet block for the village of Kwahu-Tafo in Ghana.
Thomas Hilton told The Prince about the rowing team he is a member of and his hectic training schedule, before school, at lunch break and after lessons.
"You don't fall asleep in lessons?" The Prince joked.
The Prince talked about science with student Jaspal Gill from the St. Paul's school medical society.
The Prince peered down a microscope to study crystals of lysozyme – used to break down cell walls in the immune system - grown by pupils.
The school tour included historic books, a 1669 letter written by Pepys and a map used by Field Marshal Montgomery for planning the 1944 Invasion of Europe.
The Prince added his own piece of history to the school's collection by signing the visitors book.
Pupils entertained the special visitor with an extract from the forthcoming school play Amadeus, written by another Old Pauline, Sir Peter Shaffer.
The Prince, who is a keen watercolourist, enjoyed talking to art students about their techniques and inspiration.
He asked Andrew Leeke, 15, if his talent was hereditary after admiring his painting of a chameleon and was interested to hear that Andrew's mother Maria, was also a watercolour enthusiast.
At the end of the visit The Prince unveiled a plaque which Chairman of Governors Sir Alexander Grahame said would take "pride of place" when new buildings are completed to replace some of those which have housed the school at its current site since 1968.
The school was founded by John Colet, the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, in 1509.
The Prince was presented with a copy of the book John Colet's Children which looks back on some of the well-known Old Paulines.
The Prince used the visit to highlight his campaign to halt rainforest destruction to pupils, saying it was "a very much cheaper, easier and quicker" way to slow down global warming.
Captain of the School James-Henry Metter, 18, guided The Prince during the tour.
"He was very friendly, much more down-to-earth than I expected," he said.
"We had our strict schedule but it felt like he would have stayed here all day if he could have."