RAIN failed to dampen the spirits at a royal garden party arranged to mark a fairytale year at a local primary school.

Pupils at St Teresa's RC Primary were transformed into princes and princesses for the party which celebrated headteacher's Pamela McTague's Buckingham Palace summons to meet Prince Charles at his Highgrove home.

As Mrs McTague politely grazed on traditional royal fare, such as cucumber sandwiches, pupils were tucking into Hot Corgis (hot dogs) and Union Jack Jelly. And while the headteacher toured the famous royal organic gardens, the children were having great fun playing specially designed games which included Highgrove Housey Housey --bingo were you call Palace instead of House -- and royal horse racing.

After taking part in a royal parade, learning to bow and curtsey and dancing the minuet, the children agreed they were probably having more fun than Mrs McTague. Deputy headteacher Diane Bohan said: "We made a big fuss and all the children either came in their best clothes as guests at a royal garden party, or dressed up as princes and princesses.

"The weather meant the children could not do grass sledging or play with big parachutes but they still had a lovely time."

As reported in the BEN, Mrs McTague was invited to meet Prince Charles to mark the school's successes in Ofsted inspections and national tests, but did not want the children or staff to miss out on the big day.