News Digest

Remember me? Prince Harry bumps into school matron in New Zealand

Britain’s Prince Harry had a reminder of his schooldays as he stopped in Christchurch on the latest part of his New Zealand tour. Harry was on a walkabout in the city when he saw Vicki McBratney, 44, (pictured) who was a matron at Ludgrove School in Berkshire when he was 12 years old. He immediately recognised her, laughing at a photo she gave him and asking to be introduced to her family. The Prince was in Christchurch to hear about the regeneration work being carried out after the city was hit by an earthquake in 2011 in which 185 people died.

He remembered me, which was really nice. He’s really tall!

Vicki McBratney speaking to Sky News

Joined by Prime Minister John Key, Harry visited the Quake City Exhibition where he met community members affected by the disaster. Later he received a noisy welcome from students at the University of Canterbury campus where he sat in a wheelbarrow to meet members of the Student Volunteer Army. Crowds of women and girls could be found everywhere the Prince went, probably encouraged by a recent interview in which he revealed he would like to settle down and have children. One student shouted “come for dinner with me,” while another schoolgirl persistently asked if he would come to her dance. At one point he picked up a sign on the floor, but quickly put it back down when he saw it read “Will you marry me?”