I wish I went here: Beatrice on new Yorkshire school

The young royal looked genuinely impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities at Trinity Academy, in Halifax.

And her reactions were fast enough to catch the mini-curtain she opened to reveal the plaque to mark her visit, when it collapsed at the crucial moment.

As hundreds of students gathered in the main atrium, she told the whole school: “I have never spoken to this many people before. It is quite amazing.”

Speaking without notes, she said: “I’m so honoured to be here today. I’m so honoured to see this amazing place.

“You’re so lucky to be in an academy like this, to be in a school like this, where everything can be brought together, where young people can be taught these amazing life skills in this incredible space.

“And I thank everyone who has made this possible, to bring this community together and to make this building as spectacular as it is and to give you all the most amazing opportunities that young people deserve in the UK.”

She said: “I’m just so excited to be here. I’ve seen so many of the classes - the science, the performance, the cheerleaders - I mean, I wish came to a school like this.”

This comment was greeted with laughter and applause.

The princess told the children: “Enjoy every moment of school. It is the best time.”

During her 50 minute tour of the academy, Beatrice was given a demonstration by the Trinity Tigers cheerleading team, she sat in on a science class and seemed particularly interested in the dressmaking sessions in the open-plan art-and-design studios.

She confessed she was not very good at science and, as she complimented some of the students on their “amazing” art work she confessed: “I ended up doing a sculpture. I took it home and it disintegrated.”

The princess wore a navy blue jacket over a white blouse and a royal blue skirt with navy blue shoes.

Academy principal Michael Gosling said: “All the way round the princess was talking about how school wasn’t like this when she went to school.”

He said: “In the build up to the visit the student have been very giddy. This morning, excitement was at fever pitch. They were really looking forward to the visit.”

Mr Gosling said: “Her down to earth approach came through. And she caught the curtain as well.”

Student Amy Moran, 17, said: “It was strange seeing her after only seeing her in photographs. It was exciting. I don’t know how she walked in those heels down those stairs.”

The visit to the school was the first part of a three-stop tour of West Yorkshire for the princess. She is also due to visit Huddersfield University and open the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, also in Huddersfield.