A ROYAL visitor is coming to Reigate next month to celebrate the old and the new.
The Duchess of Gloucester, who is married to the Queen's first cousin, will come to the town on September 10, with trips to The Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Gatton Park and Sandcross Primary School in Sandcross Lane on her itinerary.
At Sandcross School, she will formally open a £5 million extension which was finished earlier this year. It allowed the school's infant years to move onto the site, making Sandcross the largest primary in Surrey.
At the Royal Alexandra and Albert she will unveil items salvaged from the two orphanages which were united to form the school.
Established in Gatton Park by an Act of Parliament in 1949, the school brought together the Alexandra Orphanage and the Albert Orphanage, previously housed in Maitland Park, Camden, and Camberley respectively.
Both of the old buildings have now been demolished but a foundation stone from Maitland Park will be set into the wall at the school's Alexandra House, and a stone with the Albert Coat of Arms will be set into the wall of Albert House.
A section of the decorative staircase from the Albert Orphanage will also be installed in Albert House.
Headmaster Paul Spencer Ellis said: "We are delighted that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester will be joining us to commemorate the unique history of this school."
