Sixth form musicians from John Masefield High School met Prince Edward in Wor-cester on Tuesday, at the launch of the new University College digital arts centre.

The Ledbury party, including music teacher Becka Eaves and students Claire Spurdell, Naomi Herbert and Georgina Baker, were invited to demonstrate the recording studio, one of the main features of the £1 million facility.

Group members were told three weeks ago that a VIP would be at the launch, but they were not informed until last week that it was to be a royal occasion.

The party was told to arrive at 9.30am to get used to the studio, which they had never seen before.

They recorded a number of songs, including Duke Ellington's Solitude and Gershwin's Someone to Watch Over Me and found plenty of time for practice before the Prince's arrival at 12.40pm.

Miss Spurdell said: "It was a really good experience to work in a proper recording studio as musicians.

"The Prince seemed very friendly and chatty and seemed keen to get into the recording studio and look at the technical side of things."

Miss Herbert agreed: "He did seem interested in what we were doing and really very nice. When we heard we were to meet the Prince we thought, do we have to curtsy? We didn't."

Miss Eaves said: "He came in and said 'Oh you've been stuck in here, doing it over and over again!' He abolished any worries we might have had and put us at our ease."

The school, which has arts college status, is now keen to establish further links with University College, including the setting up of a music technology course.

The students who met Prince Edward have already recorded a rough-copy of a jazz-based CD.

Miss Eaves said: "Hopefully, we'll have a more polished version."

Opening the centre, Prince Edward said: "I know there will be a lot of people out there green with envy at the facilities you have here."