CHILDREN and staff from a Port school which hosted a royal visit last month are thrilled after receiving a thank-you letter from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Everyone at St John's Primary is still on cloud nine after Prince William and Kate chose their school to visit during two days spent in Scotland last month.

The future king and his wife came to Inverclyde to join a tiny teacher 'Roots of Empathy' session at the school, run by the Action for Children charity.

The official letter from Kensington Palace was sent to head teacher Martin Craig from the Duke of Cambridge's assistant private secretary.

It read: 'Their Royal Highnesses were delighted to have had the opportunity to visit and see at first hand the Roots of Empathy programme.

'The Duke and Duchess were also delighted to meet so many of your extraordinary pupils and were touched by the warm welcome they received.

'Their Royal Highnesses know how much hard work goes into organising a visit like this and would have me pass on their sincerest thanks to you and your team for all you did.'

Head teacher Mr Craig said: "It was a lovely surprise to receive the letter.

"It's nice to be thanked - especially for all the hard work involved and particularly after the pandemic, and gives us a chance to look back as these memories as a community.

"I know St John's is a special community and it's wonderful for this to be recognised on the biggest scale."

Mr Craig said he was impressed by the royal couple.

He said: "I thought they were really down to earth and really interested in the Roots of Empathy programme - they had done their homework on the school and the local community."

Primary three pupil Olly Hughes added: "They were singing songs along with us.

"I feel proud that they came to my school."

The children charmed Prince William and Kate so much that they invited 10 families to visit the Queen's Garden Party at Holyrood Palace on the Saturday.

Evie Deegan said: "We got a tour of Holyrood Palace and we saw where the Queen sat - we watched the pageant on a big screen.

"It was really exciting.

Classmate Luke Nesbitt said: "The best thing was finding out that the royals were going to be visiting our school.

"Kate was wearing Princess Diana's engagement ring, it was very big - I couldn't stop staring at it."