Hampton School is 450 years old this year, and on Tuesday HRH the Earl of Wessex presided over their special celebrations.

The Prince was welcomed to the school by headmaster Barry Martin and a group of distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames.

He was then entertained at a special school assembly where a musical "History of Hampton School" was put on by the boys for the theatrically-inclined Prince.

The Queen's youngest son introduced to members of the School's Film Club, and to students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

"It was a memorable visit," said Mr Martin.

"We feel as a school that our anniversary year has been given the best possible support and inspiration."

To celebrate the anniversary the school has already hosted Any Questions? for BBC Radio 4 and last week, some 2,400 friends of the school travelled to central London for a service at St Paul's Cathedral.

Among the congregation were 800 parents, over 300 former pupils, six head teachers, two Bishops - and more than 750 boys.

On Friday, the school's 1,100 pupils sat down to a lunch cooked to a recipe that is 450 years old, prepared by the school's catering department with help from Hampton Court Palace.

The Tudor lunch was the brainchild of the school's director of catering Deborah Pollecutt.

"We wanted the boys to know what kind of food their predecessors would have eaten all those years ago," said Miss Pollecutt.

"Potatoes hadn't arrived in the UK at that time and every meal was accompanied by a glass of beer."

This being 2007, the school couldn't provide the beer to go with their pork or beef stew in bread.

The School's dining-hall was decorated with pictures of Henry VIII and his many Queens, and many of the catering staff were dressed in Elizabethan costume.

Bob Simpson, who teaches English at the school, appeared as Henry VIII, with four female members of staff as several of his Queens.