MAKING NEW FRIENDS AT A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES GET BACK TO NATURE BEFORE SOME ANIMAL MAGIC AT A FARM

I've never seen a sugar-dipped apple toasted on the fire I'm going to try this with my kids' Kate

- EMILY NASH

The Prince and Princess of Wales championed the great outdoors and went back to school when they joined youngsters at a learning centre last week.

With their own children back in class, William and Kate explored forest dens and whittled wood at the site on Duchy of Cornwall land in Herefordshire.

The royal couple were visiting Madley Primary School’s Forest School, which prioritises outdoor learning to boost pupils’ mental and physical health.

The Prince donned safety glasses and gloves to saw through a log, held steady by the Princess, whose right hand was still bandaged after she suffered a minor trampolining injury.

“Is William doing it right?” Kate asked the youngsters, who told her that he was.

The heir to the throne also tried his hand at whittling, taking tips from Jake, ten, on how to use the knife.

Headteacher Lee Batstone explained that children burn the names of reception children on to sticks for them to use when they register in class each morning at school.

New starters and their parents also receive wooden heart shapes bearing the school motto: "Be the best you can be." These are placed in their hands, and are meant to be kept throughout their time at the school.

William and Kate were presented with three hearts to take home for their children - Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis – by ten-year-olds Lucy and Tomas, along with books for the children to share.

“Thank you – they love reading,” Kate said. “It’s a great way to start learning about the environment.”

Told that the children were all in Year 6, she added: “George is in the same year as you guys – he’s Year 6.”