CAFRE’s floristry students were delighted to welcome HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton to their floristry studios in the Walled Garden of Greenmount Campus in Northern Ireland.
The visit to CAFRE was part of the couple’s pre-wedding tour of the UK and provided an opportunity to meet young people and get involved in their activities. Prince William acted as referee in a hard fought tug of war contest and together the couple had a go at fencing before a more relaxed stop with the floristry students.
Miss Middleton chatted to the Level 2 Diploma students about their work and put the finishing touches to an orchid bouquet designed by CAFRE graduate Rachel Gibson.
Last year Ms Gibson represented the College in the Northern Ireland heat of the UKSkills Floristry Competition and had been invited to demonstrate her skills to this year’s full time Diploma students. She had not been told of the Royal visit until that morning so was stunned to meet the couple. “They were lovely,” she said. “Miss Middleton finished off the ribbon handle of my bouquet and said how interested she had become in flowers with the wedding coming up. I’d made an orchid wand to go with the bouquet and she said flower girls would love it.”
