The Royal School Armagh, Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, the Royal School Dungannon, Cavan Royal School and the Royal and Prior School, Raphoe have formed a company to focus on their histories. The cross-border initiative is known simply as The 1608 Royal Schools.

The Queen, dressed in a red coat and matching hat, with black shoes and bag, exited her car to rapturous applause from onlookers – some of whom had been waiting since early morning.

Along with the Duke of Edinburgh, she was greeted by the Earl of Caledon, the Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh.

Mingling

Her Majesty met the five principals during the reception as she mingled with the 130 guests, and received a Covenant of Re-Commitment from the three Northern Ireland-based Royal Schools.

It had been signed previously at a service in Armagh Cathedral in the presence of the Duke of Gloucester.

Presentation

The Queen was also presented with a book on the history of the Royal Schools of Ulster and a bottle of whiskey from Bushmills Distillery.

Royal School, Dungannon, principal Paul Hewitt, who is also chairman of The 1608 Royal Schools said it had been a fantastic day.

"Obviously each school has its own history and traditions but we're all together today, three from Northern Ireland and two from across the border – what better cross-border initiative could you get?"

Honour

Paul Crute, headmaster of the Royal School, Armagh, which hosted the celebration, said: "This is an enormous honour for us. We feel massively privileged today that the Queen has come to visit us.

"It is amazing that this event has captured the imagination."

He said his school had close links with the Royal School in Dungannon but the commitment today from all five schools was to stay close together.

Crowning glory for NI

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