ASTAFF and students from Duchy College will be shaking hands with royalty today (Thursday) at the Queen's Anniversary Prize presentation ceremony and reception at Buckingham Palace.

Duchy College Rural Business School is the first land-based college in England to be awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize. This award, which is given every two years, is in recognition of the work done to help promote prosperity and skills in the South West farming community.

At the ceremony Amarjit Basi, chief exective and principal of Cornwall College, will be presented with a medal by the Queen, while the Duke of Edinburgh will present a certificate, signed by the Queen, the head of Duchy College, Andrew Counsell.

Following the ceremony guests, including staff and students from Duchy College Rural Business School, will attend a reception at which they will get the opportunity to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Four Duchy College students have been invited to attend the ceremony and reception, including Catherine Ede, who lives near Callington and studied the degree in rural business management at Duchy College.

Catherine now works as a training leader with the Rural Business School's healthy livestock project.

She said: 'It was such a nice surprise and an honour to be selected to represent the college.

'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very excited to be visiting Buckingham Palace and even in with the chance of meeting the Queen during the reception after the ceremony.

'Having been a student and working for the Healthy Livestock project, I have seen first-hand all the work and dedication the staff at the Rural Business School put in, rolling out many courses across the South West to many beneficiaries.'

Head of Duchy College Andrew Counsell said: 'This award is evidence of the Rural Business School's significant achievements and couldn't come at a better time as Duchy College has just started work on its Future Farm plans, a £10-million investment to bring the best equipment, knowledge and support to the agriculture and land-based industries in the South West.'