Prince charms crowds on his visit to Leicestershire

The warm weather brought the crowds out to greet Prince Edward yesterday as he arrived at De Montfort University to officially open its leisure centre.

Young and old gathered to cheer his arrival in the city, with Bhangra dancers and Dhol drummers creating a fantastic display of colour and sound.

DMU's vice-chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard was there to greet him, alongside staff and students.

The prince enjoyed a tour of the £8 million building and its facilities, stopping to speak to students from sports societies, including DMU's swim and triathlon teams at the 25m pool, where he sounded a klaxon to start a sponsored swim.

He then unveiled a plaque to the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre, amid a huge cheer from the gathered crowd. The centre was so called after the Queen's visit to the university last year, as part of her jubilee tour.

Russell Theobald, from the university's rowing society, said: "He asked us about our rowing formations and seemed quite knowledgeable. He was very approachable and chatty so he made it easy for us to talk to him."

Keiron Piper, 20, from DMU's swim team said: "He seemed genuinely interested in what we did."

The prince also unveiled a plaque dedicated to the opening of the university's new Square Mile offices at The Chantry, where he met project leaders and children from Montrose School, in Aylestone. The project has seen trained students mentoring pupils from the primary.

Elyssa Wilson, nine, said: "It's been a really special day meeting the prince. He was really nice."

The prince also dropped into Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, where he was introduced to project leaders and participants in other Square Mile projects, including a stem cell donation drive supported by policeman Rik Basra, who has undergone a successful donor transplant.

DMU held a recruitment drive for young people to join the Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow donors register recently, with more than 300 people signing up.

The event was supported by The Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign. Rik's wife, Kas, who was also there, said: "We're so thrilled to have met the prince, we're still on a high."

In the afternoon, the royal visitor's schedule included a visit to North Warwickshire and Hinckley College's £12.8 million creative arts campus, in Hinckley, to talk to staff and students about their work.

He also travelled to John Cleveland College, in Hinckley, to meet students studying for their Duke of Edinburgh awards. Earlier in the day when he was asked how well the Duke was, following news the 92-year-old will have to undergo an operation, he said he didn't yet know.

Young Leader awards were also handed out.

Among those collecting one was Tom Morgan, 18, who said: "It's great to get the award after so much hard work, and even better to receive it in the company of Prince Edward.