WE ARE AMUSED: Royal subjects Laura Downton and Clare Harvey.
TWO Southampton schoolgirls kept a Royal appointment when they were invited to the first Children's Laureate Award ceremony at London's Royal National Theatre.
Laura Downton and Clare Harvey from Houndsdown School in Totton were present as the Princess Royal announced the favourite children's author, Quentin Blake, chosen in a poll of 24 schools across the country.
The Year 8 pair were invited after writing reports on a six-week intensive reading programme which involved classroom debates on the merits of several authors.
In a joint letter to the Echo, Laura and Clare said they were proud and excited to attend, and especially enjoyed discussing their reading with the Princess.
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